The Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has been on the job since 2008. Now going into his 40th year as a coach, he reveals he has never seen anything like the Tua Tagovailoa situation.
Here’s @Ravens coach John Harbaugh on the events of last night. Worth listening to—Harbaugh’s been a great advocate for the sport in general. pic.twitter.com/T9uFfGkjPA
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 30, 2022
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John Harbaugh has a rich career in coaching football. When he was talking to the press before Week 4 NFL match against the Bills, he mentioned his astonishment at how Tua Tagovailoa was allowed to play. “I’ve been coaching for 40 years now College and the NFL almost 40, and never seen anything like it before,” added the head coach.
Tua Tagovailoa diagnosed with a concussion
In the match against the Buffalo Bills, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took a nasty fall, hitting his head against the ground. The player was quick to get up, however, while walking toward the huddle, he took a tumble again. The medical team took him off the field in order to check him for a possible concussion. He later returned to the game as the staff cleared him. After the match, the NFLPA even launched an investigation into the decision to send him back on ground.
The Miami Dolphins went against the Cincinnati Bengals in their Week 4 match. Unfortunately for the quarterback, he took another fall in the game. The player was lying on the ground motionless after hitting his head. They then rushed the player to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a concussion.
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On the brighter side, they have released him from the hospital and he is back home. However, this incident has sparked a debate over the protocols and the responsibility of different stakeholders to maintain the health of players.
John Harbaugh’s thoughts on the treatment of the player
Looking at how the team handled the situation, John Harbaugh was shocked. He understands that the players sometimes want to play. But in these situations, the doctors and the staff have to be firm with him. “you have to say no”, reiterated Harbaugh.
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He gave the example of a similar experience with Devin Duvernay. The Baltimore Ravens kept the wide receiver out of practice sessions even though he was not showing any symptoms. The head coach highlighted the need to follow the protocols and listen to doctors. Duvernay only returned to practice after he got all the necessary clearances.
Watch this story: Patrick Mahomes responds to Tyreek Hill comparing him with Tua Tagovailoa