Tua Tagovailoa has a new team. The quarterback is set to sign a 1-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons on March 10, 2026. This deal comes only 1 day after the Miami Dolphins released him.
Tagovailoa will earn $1.3 million in Atlanta. This is the league minimum salary for a veteran player. The Dolphins still owe him $54 million in guaranteed money. As a result, the Falcons acquired a starting quarterback at a very low price.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa
Jan 4, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) walks out of the player tunnel before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
The Dolphins faced a record dead cap hit to move on from their former 1st round pick. Tagovailoa struggled during the 2025 season.
He started 14 games and finished with a 6–8 record. He threw for 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns. However, he also threw 15 interceptions. The team benched him for the final 3 games of the year.
Atlanta needs help at the quarterback position. Their current starter, Michael Penix Jr., suffered a torn ACL in November 2025. He is still recovering from that injury.
The Falcons are signing former Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year, $1.3 million deal, sources tell @NFLonCBS. The two sides talked today and the signing will be official later this week. It’s lefty vs. lefty in The A.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) March 9, 2026
He will compete for the starting job under new head coach Kevin Stefanski. He provides a veteran option while the team waits for Penix to get healthy.
Miami acted quickly to replace Tagovailoa. They reportedly agreed to a 3-year deal with Malik Willis. That contract is worth $67.5 million. Willis previously played for the Green Bay Packers. The Dolphins hope Willis can provide more consistency than they saw in 2025.
He spent 6 seasons in Miami. He had many high moments, but injuries and late season fades defined his time there. He now gets a fresh start in Georgia. The Falcons hope a change of scenery helps him regain his best form.
Fans in Atlanta are curious to see if he can lead the offense in 2026. This move changes the landscape of the NFC South. Both teams are moving in new directions as the 2026 league year begins.
The decision behind releasing Tua Tagovailoa
Miami released Tua Tagovailoa because the franchise wanted a total reset. Performance issues played a major role. He was benched for the final 3 games of the 2025 season.
Health concerns were another factor. Tagovailoa suffered 3 concussions during his time in the NFL. The team also hired a new general manager and head coach. These leaders chose to rebuild the roster without him.
The team never won a playoff game with Tagovailoa at quarterback. Management decided to move on despite a record $99.2 million dead cap hit. This choice allowed the team to start over with a different direction.