Reaction to Tua Tagovailoa’s latest concussion shows the NFL has come a long way: Analysis

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The NFL has come a long way since the times when players brushed off concussions and stayed in the game or returned too soon.

No more using smelling salts on the bench and getting back in the huddle. No more rubbing dirt on injuries. No more trying to “suck it up” and playing through a potentially serious problem.

The reaction to Tua Tagovailoa’s latest concussion shows how the league, its current and former players, fans and the media have evolved.

Tagovailoa sustained his fourth diagnosed concussion in five years in Miami’s 31-10 loss to Buffalo on Thursday. It was another frightening moment for a quarterback who has a history of head injuries.

Immediately, the concern centered on Tagovailoa’s long-term health. Nobody was wondering when he will play again. Rather, most folks watching were debating whether Tagovailoa should ever lace up his cleats and step on the field again.

“If I’m him, at this point, I’m seriously considering retiring from football,” Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez said on Amazon Prime Video’s broadcast after the game. “If that was my son, I would be like, ‘It

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