Former All-Pro Shares Scary Retirement Truth Amid Tua Tagovailoa Injury

Former All-Pro linebacker Bart Scott shared a frightening truth about his own retirement from the NFL on Friday, September 13, drawing parallels between his experience and that of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who suffered another concussion during Thursday Night Football against the Buffalo Bills the night prior.

Scott, who was named Second-Team All-Pro and made a Pro Bowl in 2006 with the Baltimore Ravens, had a successful NFL career after entering the league in 2002 as an undrafted free agent.

In 2009, he signed with the New York Jets, anchoring their defense and helping lead the team to back-to-back AFC Championship appearances in 2009 and 2010 before retiring in 2012.

Though Scott enjoyed a long career, he recently opened up about the real reason he decided to step away from football — a truth he believes Tagovailoa may need to consider himself.

"But really it was because I started seeing spots and lights," said Scott on ESPN's " Get Up ". "I didn't know what to do. I was like, you know what? It's time to fold it up."

Scott has previously voiced his concerns about the dangers of concussions in the NFL, even though he’s maintained that he never officially suffered one.

However, he’s been candid about the lingering effects and symptoms that eventually led to his decision to retire.

For Tagovailoa, this latest concussion marks his third.

His first occurred in Week 4 of the 2022 season against the Cincinnati Bengals, followed by another in Week 16 of that year against the Green Bay Packers. Thursday night's injury adds to a growing list of head injuries for the young quarterback.

As Scott shared his story, it serves as a strong reminder of the risks players face, and why Tagovailoa might need to weigh the potential long-term impact on his health.

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