The Miami Dolphins quarterbac’s father, Galu Tagovailoa, recently spoke to ESPN Honolulu and gave some insight as to why retirement was never on the table.

“He’s like, ‘Dad, I love this game, and I’ll die on the field for this game,’” the patriarch said in Friday’s episode. “So that answers everything for me, you know what I’m saying? But at the same time, as a father, you’re like, ‘Man, you got to take care of your health.’ That’s the most important thing. You have a family. I have two beautiful grandkids.”

While the elder Tagovailoa somewhat lamented how difficult these conversations are before, he understood that his son’s competitive nature won’t let him leave the game.

“It’s hard because you don’t really have him like how you had it before,” Taogvailoa said, explaining that his son is married now. “He has his wife and his family, and those decisions are based on both of them and, you know, things that they got to look at. And, you know, his wife is such a beautiful lady that, you know, she’s all about his health, she’s all about life, you know, and she tells him, ‘You know, I want to live long with you.’”

Added Tagovailoa: “Tua grew up in a way that everything is just so competitive. He just doesn’t want to leave the game.”

Galu’s comments come roughly four months after his son sustained a fourth documented concussion against the Buffalo Bills. In the game, Tua dove headfirst for the first down only to collide with Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s abdomen. Tagovailoa was immediately taken out the game and missed the next four after the Dolphins placed him in injured reserve.

In his first news conference since he the head injury on Sept. 12, Tagovailoa appeared somewhat indignant, especially when asked about how his concussion history will impact his NFL future.

“I appreciate your concern, I really do,” Tagovailoa said Oct. 21. “I love this game, and I love it to the death of me.”

“Everything I think takes risk,” Tagovailoa added, seemingly implying that there’s even risk in driving to work. “Every time we all suit up, we’re all taking a risk that we could potentially get hurt whether it’s a concussion, a broken bone or anything. You get up off of the bed the wrong way you potentially could risk spraining your ankle. There’s just risk in any and everything and I’m willing to play the odds.”

Although Tagovailoa’s competitive drive is part of what has endeared him to coaches, teammates and fans alike, the Dolphins front office has been very clear about his need to protect himself as of late — especially considering he missed the last two games with a hip injury.

“To see where he’s come from, from his early time here was impressive,” general manager Chris Grier said Jan. 7. “That being said, he needs to be available. He needs to know how to protect himself. You’re going to get hit at times, it’s always going to happen, but he needs to control what he can control. He understands that. Not being available for taking chances and risk is unacceptable to us, and he knows that.”