ESPN's NFL Live was interrupted on Monday after news broke that Tua Tagovailoa would be signing for the Atlanta Falcons following his release by the Miami Dolphins
07:14 ET, 10 Mar 2026
Laura Rutledge, Ryan Clark and Jeremy Fowler on ESPN's NFL Live
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NFL Live's coverage of free agency was interrupted by the news that Tua Tagovailoa plans to sign for the Atlanta Falcons(Image: YouTube/ESPN)
ESPN's NFL Live was halted on Monday after news broke that the Atlanta Falcons would be signing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year deal following his release by the Miami Dolphins.
Earlier in the day, the Dolphins announced they were releasing Tagovailoa, six years after they drafted him fifth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Releasing the 28-year-old, who signed a monstrous four-year $212.4 million extension back in July 2024, will prove to be financially painful for Miami, which will take on an NFL record $99 million dead cap hit as a result.
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With Tagovailoa being designated as a post-June 1 cut, the Dolphins can spread that $99 million cap charge across the next two seasons, making his dead cap in 2026 $67.4 million and $31.8 million in 2027. While the now former Dolphins quarterback penned a lengthy goodbye message to Miami after news broke of his release, Tagovailoa has already found a new home in Atlanta.
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According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Tagovailoa plans to sign a one-year deal with the Falcons, which he hopes will allow him to rehabilitate his career after being benched down the stretch of the 2025 regular season by Miami.
In joining Atlanta, Tagovailoa will be part of a quarterback room that also includes 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr., meaning the Falcons will have two left-handed signal callers on their roster.
Breaking the news on NFL Live, Schefter said: "We mentioned Tua and the Atlanta Falcons, he plans to sign a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa runs out of the tunnel
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Tua Tagovailoa looks set to join the Atlanta Falcons(Image: Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
"That would mean he would be united with Michael Penix; they'd have two left-handed quarterbacks, which makes a lot of sense here. You can see it happening, and Tua's going to wind up in Atlanta on the same day that he gets released from the Miami Dolphins."
Tagovailoa will have a chance to impress Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski during the offseason, with Penix currently rehabbing a torn ACL for the third time in his career. The signing of the former Dolphins starter also makes sense because he is left-handed, allowing Stefanski to keep the entire offensive playbook consistent regardless of who starts, Tagovailoa or Penix.
Additionally, it also helps wide receivers adjust to the ball spinning in the opposite direction.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. drops back to throw the ball
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Tagovailoa will join Michael Penix Jr. as the second left-handed signal caller in Atlanta's quarterback room(Image: Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
And following the announcement, Tagovailoa plans to sign with the Falcons, NFL fans on social media all said the same thing about Atlanta boasting two lefties.
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"The most interesting thing about this signing is the 2 left handed QBs," wrote one fan on X, adding: "This was an expected move from the Falcons but having 2 lefties makes it easy to draw up plays and boot legs, don’t have to worry about confusion on those types of plays."
A second commented: "Two left-handed QBs in the same room… that’s actually fascinating."
A third said: "Interesting move by the Falcons - two left-handed QBs could create some unique looks. Atlanta giving themselves options at QB. Tua adds experience behind Penix."