Lefty Legacy: How Tua Tagovailoa will standout as the only left handed QB in the NFL

By: Tatumn Vaught on April 15, 2020

Since the draft is next week, it's hard not the pick out the details of each rookie QB that's about to start a whole new journey in the league. Tua Tagovailoa, Hawian native that traveled to Sweet Home Alabama to continue adding to the Tide's legacy, will be the only left-handed quarterback in the NFL.

While lefties are not numerous in the NFL, it doesn't mean the odds are stacked against them. Many great players that have been in the NFL and Hall of Fame were left-handed. These athletes include Steve Young, Tim Tebow, Michael Vick, Ken Stabler, Mark Brunell, and more. The most recent left-handed QB in the NFL was Lions/Cowboys backup, Kellen Moore who retired in 2018 to coach.

Therefore, while lefties are considered rare in the league, it's more due to numbers than the particular type of skills only a right-handed person can possess to succeed at a professional level. According to Everyday Health, only 10% of people in the world are left-handed. Therefore, only 0.9% of QBs in the NFL are left-handed, making each new leftie rookie one to remember.

But, it's not just the fact that Tua's left-handed that will make him stand out in the league. It changes the whole dynamic of his new team and how the rest of his team, and opponents, will adjust. One reason this is troublesome is how it's harder to protect a leftie in the pocket. Adam Stites of SB Nation discussed in his article how a strong right tackle is key for a team with a left-handed QB. This will make Tagovailoa more susceptible to being sacked, and getting hurt, which is a huge risk since the rookie has already been severely injured twice unless his team can protect him.

Although Tua has many things he's going to have to prove, the fact that he scored 87 touchdowns and created the infamous 2nd and 26 for the Crimson Tide shows he's more than just a statistic. This is just the beginning of the Tagovalioa family, as his brother is right behind him in Tuscaloosa ready to see which NFL team he can show he will defy the odds.