Famous concussion doctor Bennet Omalu begs Tua Tagovailoa to retire after Dolphins QB suffered THIRD head injury of career

Dr. Bennet Omalu, who is credited for finding chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in ex-football players, is once again calling for Tua Tagovailoa to retire.

On Thursday, the 26-year-old suffered his third known concussion after colliding with Damar Hamlin in the Miami Dolphins' 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Speaking to TMZ Sports, Omalu said would become 'permanently incapacitated' if he acquires more damage to his brain.

'If I were his brother, his father, his uncle, cousin, nephew, if I were a member of his family,' Omalu said, per TMZ. 'I would beg him to retire. Find something else to do.'

Omalu, portrayed by Will Smith in the 2015 film 'Concussion' on his life and work, encouraged the quarterback to step away from the NFL for the second time in two years.

His first call came when Tagovailoa was stretchered off after getting a concussion against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022.

'He should stop,' the doctor said. 'Sometimes money is not more valuable than human life. $20 billion is not worth more than your brain.'

After the scary collision on Thursday, ex-NFL star Dez Bryant led the social media calls for Tagovailoa to hang up his cleats for his and his family's sake.

While Shannon Sharpe, Nick Wright, and Ryan Clark all expressed concern that evening, ESPN's Elle Duncan shared Omanu's sentiment about how his family should approach the situation.

While conversations take place in the media, Omalu also called the Dolphins and the NFL to step in and protect the quarterback from further damage.

'As the corporation placing him back to play,' Omalu said, 'knowing fully well that there is a significant and substantial risk that this individual could suffer subsequent catastrophic and permanent brain damage -- then why would you place him back to play?'

In the meantime, Miami coach Mike McDaniel has put the decision in Tagovailoa's hands. He also admitted not knowing when and if his star facilitator will return to the field.

'I think it'd be so wrong of me to even sniff that subject,' McDaniel told reporters on Friday. 'It's more in line with actually caring about the human being. You're talking about his career.

'I totally get that's where people want to go to, but I wish people would hear what I am saying, bringing up his future is not in the best interest of him.

'I am going to plead with everybody that does genuinely care that should be the last thing on your mind.'