Should Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa retire? Analysts, former players weigh in

So, is it time for Tagovailoa to hang up his cleats for good?

That is ultimately a decision that is up to Tagovailoa once he has the conversations that he needs to, but the 26-year-old just signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension in July.

Head coach Mike McDaniel says it's not a decision that will come lightly.

"You're talking about his career. His career is his," McDaniel said, via Joe Schad of Palm Beach Post. "I just wish people would for a second hear that bringing up his future is not in the best interest of him."

Tagovailoa's deal includes $167M guaranteed for injury, $43M of which has been paid in 2024, per Spotrac.

If the 26-year-old signal-caller is medically cleared to return to football, but opts to retire, he will forego the remaining $124M guaranteed on his contract (barring a custom settlement). If he's medically forced into retirement, he has a right to collect the $124M remaining.

That is a decision for another day, though. In the meantime, McDaniel said the Dolphins will go forward with Skylar Thompson as their starter and will likely add another quarterback, too.

Tagovailoa's health is what is most important. Given his history of concussions, retirement could be the best option for his long-term health. That's just not a decision he needs to make or McDaniel wants to discuss right now.

"I have to put his health as the primary. ... The best thing I can do is not try to address what this means from a football standpoint," McDaniel stated, via Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. "Science behind concussions tells you how delicate the time is right after an injury & how important it is you don't institute extra sources of anxiety."