Tua Tagovailoa is at the helm of the NFL‘s most potent offensive attacks. Tua and the Miami Dolphins look to be in rare company when it comes to their offensive production so far in 2023, with no signs of stopping anytime soon. With statistical records on notice this season, Tua and the boys look poised to possibly make a deep playoff run this season.
A huge part of the reason for the team’s success is not only the player’s ability but Tua’s availability. Last season was a terrible one for Tagovailoa personally. Dealing with multiple head injuries not only derailed the season, but there were many who believed it could’ve derailed his entire career.
While Tua has dispelled the latter, it took some outside-of-the-box thinking to be able to do so. A thought process that led the young star QB to change up his training in the offseason, a choice that led Tagovailoa to jiu-jitsu.
Why Does Tua Tagovailoa Do Jiu-Jitsu?
Many may ask why Tagovailoa would dive into martial arts, especially after the blows to the head he has taken, and think that hand-to-hand combat may be the last thing the QB needs. However, it wasn’t the striking that caught Tua’s attention — it was the ability to learn how to fall properly that made it all worth it for him.
Tua has learned how to properly fall in a way that will hopefully prevent future concussions from occurring. The idea is to be able to know how to take a hit and how to roll your body where your head and neck are not taking the brunt of the force.
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In an interview with ESPN, Tagovailoa spoke about what jiu-jitsu brings to the table.
“We don’t even get touched until the season starts,” he said. “So I mean, with jiu-jitsu, I’ve been thrown airborne, I’ve been put in many uncomfortable positions for me to learn how to fall and try to react throughout those positions that I’m getting thrown around in.”
It is just the type of outside-of-the-box thinking that helps players continue to be great. However, it wasn’t just Tua’s idea to start doing it. He had some help on the Dolphins’ staff.
Tagovailoa mentioned quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell, strength and conditioning coach Dave Puloka, and head athletic trainer Kyle Johnston were a part of the brain trust that put the plan in motion.
It’s hard to argue with the results right now as Miami’s offense is electric and they’re winning games. Most importantly, Tua is staying healthy through it all, which is a key factor if this Dolphins team is going to contend for a championship in 2023.
Tua’s Injury History
The measures taken to find a way better way is due to an extensive injury history, highlighted by his two concussions in one season. Let’s take a closer look at Tua’s injury history in the NFL that has gotten him to this point.
- November 2020: Tua suffers a thumb injury in practice ahead of a Week 12 matchup vs. the Jets.
- September 2021: Tagovailoa is carted off after a rough hit against the Buffalo Bills. He was placed on injured reserve with rib fractures.
- November 2021: Fractured middle finger of his throwing hand, resulting in him missing the Week 9 matchup vs. the Texans.
- September 2022: In the Dolphins’ Week 3 matchup vs. the Bills, Tua suffers a “back injury,” though the team’s first indication was that it was a head injury. He cleared concussion protocol and returned to the field in the same game.
- September 2022: A week later, in a Week 4 matchup versus the Cincinnati Bengals, Tagovailoa is slammed to the ground, suffers another head injury, and is placed on a backboard and carted off.
- December 2022: Tua suffers his third concussion of the 2022 season after hitting the back of his head on the turf versus the Green Bay Packers in Week 16. He was not removed from the game, but it was confirmed that he suffered a concussion following the game.
