On Thursday night, the Buffalo Bills visited Hard Rock Stadium and decisively defeated their AFC East rivals, the Miami Dolphins. Despite the celebratory atmosphere among the Bills Mafia supporters, a somber mood prevailed as the game concluded.
In the third quarter, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, while scrambling for a first down, collided with Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Tagovailoa’s head struck Hamlin, causing him to fall to the ground with his arms in an unnatural position known as the fencing response, which often indicates a serious brain injury or concussion.
Within six minutes, Tagovailoa was confirmed to have a concussion and ruled out of the game. This incident sparked concern about his future in the NFL, especially considering he’s only 26 and has now experienced four concussions in his football career—three in the NFL and one in college at Alabama.
After the game, Bills players and staff shared their support for Tagovailoa through social media and interviews. Here are some of their comments:
QB Josh Allen:
“If you know Tua outside of football like I do, you can’t help but feel for him. He’s a great football player but an even better human being. He’s one of the best people on the planet. I have a lot of love for him and am praying for him and his family, hoping everything will be okay. This game has its highs and lows, and this is definitely one of the lows.”
LT Dion Dawkins:
“It was the saddest thing. I promise you, it was heartbreaking. We were all watching him and urging him to slide, but the game moves so fast. It’s a game of inches. If he had just slid a little earlier—it’s such a tragic situation. My prayers and thoughts are with Tua, his family, and his parents. This game is violent, and this incident highlights that. Despite being rivals, we’re all part of a brotherhood in football, and we’re all praying for Tua and his family. It’s a deeply sad moment.”
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