MIAMI — Tua Tagovailoa had not walked off the field Thursday night under his own power when the cacophony of unsolicited advice began pouring in from all around.

“He should retire!” America declared.

By apparent immediate consensus, social media concluded that the Miami Dolphins quarterback’s third concussion and first in almost two years should end Tagovailoa’s football career.

In the postgame news conference that night his coach Mike McDaniel made a plea that had zero shot of being heard or respected when he said to the inevitable retirement questions from the media:

“It would be so wrong of me to even sniff that subject, and it’s more in line with actually caring about the human being. You’re talking about his career. I just wish that people would for a second hear what I’m saying — that bringing up his future is not in the best interest of him. So, I’m going to plead with everybody that does genuinely care that that should be the last thing on your mind.”

Instead it was the first thing, seemingly the only thing, on the minds of attention-seeking, self-appointed guardians of Tagovailoa’s best interest.

Dez Bryant: “That’s it. NFL go ahead and do the right thing. Tua has had entirely way too many concussions. He needs to retire for his longevity health concerns.

Shannon Sharpe took time out from broadcasting himself on Instagram having sex to say, “Really hope Tua is ok, but he’s gotta seriously think about shutting it down. His concussions are getting worse and worse and he’s a young man with his entire life ahead of him.”

The noise escalated when a sitting NFL head coach, Antonio Pierce of the Las Vegas Raiders, said in a news conference:

“He’s going to live longer than he’s going to play football. Take care of your family. I’d tell him to retire. It’s not worth it.”

With that Pierce broke an unwritten rule that one coach does not butt into another coach’s business. It was unprofessional. And also precisely what McDaniel had implored others to not do.

To Pierce and the others loudly trying to make Tagovailoa’s very personal decision for him, well, the phrase shut the bleep up comes to mind.

It bears noting Tagovailoa played every game in a healthy 2023 before Thursday’s recurrence.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport reported Sunday that Tagovailoa would not retire. That was predictable, not the least bit surprising. And it was a decision he made after much heartfelt conversation with his family and with medical experts.

Backup Skylar Thompson will start Sunday’s Dolphins game in Seattle, and perhaps others until Tagovailoa is cleared medically to return. Miami on Monday signed Tyler Huntley off Baltimore’s practice squad to back up Thompson. Another QB, Tim Boyle, is on the Fins’ practice squad.

But even with reports Tagovailoa will not retire, still the outside debate goes on about what the player should do with his life and his career.

As if anybody might know better than Tagovailoa himself, his loved ones and the doctors he trusts.

Don’t get me wrong here. It wasn’t just the he-should-retire mantra I objected to. He also should not have pressure from the other side, from those who downplay the risk of concussions and says of course he should play again.

Dr. Patrick Murray, a sports medicine physician at the University of South Florida, told Axios that repeated concussions can put players at higher risk of brain injury from lower-impact hits and require longer recovery times. He said doctors don’t have objective thresholds to recommend retirement due to concussions but should inform players about medical concerns of future risk.

“Ultimately it’s a patient-centered decision based on risks and benefits,” he said.

I found it ironic that Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin made the tackle that injured Tagavailoa on Thursday night.

Hamlin had a cardiac arrest during a game in January 2023 and nearly died on the field. “He should retire!” rose the national cry. He did not. Should he have?

His life, his career, his decision. Not yours or mine.

Said Hamlin, as if addressing Tagovailoa on his decision about his future and all the outside noise: ”You’ve got to tune all that out. At the end of the day, there’s nobody lining up on the field with you except the people that’s on your side. Ain’t nobody in the room with you when the cameras are off besides your family. Those are the opinions that matter.”

Resume his career or retire — I would have supported whichever decision Tagovailoa made for himself and his family, and so should fans and others.

If he is at peace with still playing and has the blessing of his family and doctors, that makes it the right decision for him.

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