Tua Tagovailoa suffered a pair of concussions during the 2022 season that have called into question his future in the NFL. His parents are trying to cast aside doubts about a return to the field.
Tagovailoa's father, Galu, said he expects his son to return to the Dolphins in 2023.
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"Oh, he comes back," Galu Tagovailia told Honolulu television station KHON. “Yeah, he comes back. That’s their guy. I mean, they love him. We love them and what they’re doing and how (they are) helping him with his recovery and everything else, you know, trying to get him back, still going through his protocol, but we’re grateful for them, too.
"Very thankful for Miami, the organization, the owner, GM, and head coach, Mike [McDaniel]. I mean, that guy’s special. Very special head coach."
Tua Tagovailoa’s parents express gratitude for overwhelming support from #Hawaii and beyond throughout Tua’s adversities this past season, have no doubts that he will return as #Dolphins quarterback in 2023 #NFLHawaii @TuaFoundation @PolynesianFBHOF 🤙🏽 @AHoshidaSports pic.twitter.com/RaZaPhUOg9
— Rob DeMello (@RobDeMelloKHON) January 26, 2023
MORE: A timeline of Tua Tagovailoa's injuries
Tua Tagovailoa had the best season of his NFL career in 2022. In 13 games, he completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His play helped Dolphins reach the playoffs, but he missed the final two games of the regular season and the team's wild-card loss to the Bills with his second concussion.
The third-year starter missed several games earlier the season as he dealt with his first reported concussion. He was forced to exit a Week 4 contest against the Bengals after he was placed in the concussion protocol, and he didn't return until Week 7 against the Steelers.
MORE: How Tua Tagovailoa changed NFL's concussion protocol
In Week 16 against the Packers, Tagovailoa hit the turf in the first half but finished the game. The team announced afterward that he had a concussion. The injury kept him out for the remainder of the season.
Teddy Bridgewater replaced him against the Patriots in Week 17 but broke his finger in the game. Skylar Thompson finished that game and played the remainder of Miami's season. He led the Dolphins to an 11-6 victory over the Jets in Week 18 to send Miami to the playoffs, but he completed only 40 percent of his passes for 220 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions against the Bills in a 34-31 loss in the wild-card round.
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The repeated concussions, plus a back injury that many observers believed was a concussion, have raised questions about whether Tagovailoa would return in 2023. Dr. Bennet Omalu, who discovered CTE in athletes, told TMZ Sports in October after Tagovailoa suffered his first concussion that he should retire from the league.
"Tua, my brother. I love you," Omalu said. "I love you as much as I love my son. Stop playing. Stop. Hang your helmet and gallantly walk away."
Tagovailoa will miss the Pro Bowl as he remains in the concussion protocol, but there has been little doubt he will return to the league in 2023. Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told reporters after the season ended that the team was moving forward with the expectation Tagovailoa would return.
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In their interview with KHON, Tagovailoa's parents said their son has been doing well this offseason and that he's "really happy." They also thanked everyone around the world for their support.
"The power of prayer is truly amazing. And I mean, not only locally and in the United States, but globally. I mean, across the globe, everyone is just praying in agreement for his healing and just for our healing as well. You know, as parents, we don’t ever want to see our children hurt," Tagaovailoa's mother, Diane Tagovailoa, told KHON. "So just the prayers have been so comforting and we’re so grateful."
