It’s been a long road for Tua Tagovailoa and his family.
After suffering a dislocated hip nearly a full year ago, cutting his college football career short, Tagovailoa has spent every moment working to get back to doing what he loves. That came to fruition last Sunday when the southpaw got the nod to enter the game at quarterback for the Miami Dolphins for the team’s final drive of its win over the New York Jets.
In what is usually considered a mop-up role, instead was the closing of a long and difficult chapter for Tagovailoa, the reaction from the fans showed how important his return was.
Dolphins fans reacting to Tua entering the game. pic.twitter.com/aLAqayefNC
— Pat Dowd (@Pat_Dowd77) October 18, 2020
He finally made his way back onto the football field and after the game, he decided to take the entire moment in.
Tua Tagovailoa went back to the field and he’s sitting around the 15-yard-line in full uniform. It looks like he’s soaking this moment in.
On November 16, 2019, Tua suffered a potentially career-ending injury. On October 18, 2020, he threw his first NFL passes. pic.twitter.com/q5OHSNQe2c
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) October 18, 2020
Here's a photo of Tua Tagovailoa sitting on the field after the game ended where he made his NFL debut.
Appears he is just soaking it all in. We're not crying, you're crying.
(📸via @CameronWolfe) pic.twitter.com/uPwEDcvUVd
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) October 19, 2020
The area where Tagovailoa was sitting was relatively close to where he had gone down with his hip injury against Mississippi State.
It was also later reported that Tagovailoa was actually face-timing his parents in this very moment. The conversation was emotional with Tagovailoa telling his parents that he wanted to make them proud and that he is happy to be back on the football field.
"I said, 'son what's wrong?' He just said that he wanted to make me and his mom proud." ❤️
Galu Tagovailoa told me it was an emotional moment when @Tua facetimed his parents from the field after making his NFL debut. @dtagovailoa #Dolphins #FinsUp @BamaProUpdates @CBS_42 pic.twitter.com/EQfjS1CGHR
— Simone Eli (@SimoneEli_TV) October 19, 2020
As time goes on Tagovailoa will become to eventual starter for the Dolphins who selected him with the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and when that time comes he will look to fully begin crafting his new legacy in the NFL.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
