Since being selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has experienced an uneven start to his career but appeared to flourish under coach Mike McDaniel in 2022. The 26-year-old demonstrated the potential to be Miami’s first franchise quarterback since Dan Marino.
However, just two games into the 2024 season, his career is now in question. Tagovailoa sustained a concussion during Miami’s loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, prompting discussions about whether he should consider retirement.
Here’s everything we know about how the topic of retirement impacts his contract and what the rest of his season with the team might look like.
This offseason, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier rewarded Tagovailoa’s improvements with a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension. Of this, $167.1 million is guaranteed, with approximately $42 million already paid out this year.
According to Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac, if Tagovailoa is cleared to play but opts to retire, he would forfeit the remaining $124 million unless he negotiates a settlement to recover it. However, if he is forced to retire due to medical reasons, he would be entitled to that $124 million.
Ginnitti noted on X, “The other side of this equation gets a little tougher. If Tua passes a physical next March, the Dolphins could release him, with only his $50 million of 2025 compensation remaining on the books.”
He added that the $54 million the Dolphins owe Tagovailoa for 2026 will become guaranteed on March 14. Releasing him after June would result in $83.6 million in dead cap over the final two years of his contract.
