Tua Tagovailoa and Damar Hamlin. Photo Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images Sep 12, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) sufferes an apparent concussion after hitting his head on the ground while being tackled by Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
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The fact Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concussion on a scary-looking play Thursday night shook the NFL community.

The fact Damar Hamlin was involved in the play made the situation worse.

To be clear, the Buffalo Bills defensive back made a textbook, perfectly clean tackle on Tagovailoa late in the third quarter on Thursday Night Football. But Tagovailoa’s head bent awkwardly. He went down and lay on his back, and while he eventually walked off the field, he was quickly ruled out with a concussion.

For a player with a well-documented history of concussions, it raised immediate concerns about Tagovailoa’s health, and his future in football.

That Hamlin had been the one involved in the tackle seemed like the cruelest twist of fate. Hamlin, of course, made national news when he suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday Night Football on Jan. 2, 2023. That incident made headlines, as did his recovery and his bid to return to football.

TNF play-by-play man Al Michaels quickly noted the unfortunate coincidence, without dwelling on it.

“A little irony there, he got hit by Damar Hamlin. You know that history,” Michaels said.

Some fans and media called out Michaels for even mentioning that angle; others said it was too obvious to ignore.


For many who watched the game, however, the parallels between the injuries to Tagovailoa and Hamlin were striking. Both involved the Bills, both happened in prime-time games.

“It brought back some of those memories from two years ago in seeing that,” Ryan Fitzpatrick said in the TNF postgame show.

While everyone’s prayers after the play and following the game were with Tagovailoa, many sports media and fans felt for Hamlin, too.


Many sports media fired back at social media posts claiming, in effect, Hamlin laid a “brutal” hit on the Dolphins quarterback, implicating the Bills safety.


Syracuse.com’s Ryan Talbot posted on X, “Really hope Tagovailoa is okay. Hamlin with as clean of a hit as you can put on a QB.”


For now, everyone, including Hamlin, is wishing Tagovailoa a full recovery.

About Arthur Weinstein

Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.

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