Atlanta Falcons, Kirk Cousins, Miami Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa
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Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa and Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins.
The Atlanta Falcons officially signed Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year contract worth up to $1.3 million.
The move came after the Miami Dolphins released the 28-year-old after the 2025 season. Tagovailoa’s career has been up and down primarily due to injuries and performance on the field.
“After a standout career at the University of Alabama that included a national championship win, Tagovailoa was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the fifth-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He started nine of the Dolphins’ final 10 games during his rookie season and entered the 2021 season as the team’s starter.” An Atlanta Falcons article by Will McFadden & Tori McElhaney says.
The former Dolphins quarterback has revealed that he is looking for a fresh start.
Tua Tagovailoa Ready For Good ‘Reset’
Tagovailoa expressed how signing with Atlanta was a great opportunity for him.
“Based off of what happened last year, I knew I needed to play better, but I think this is a great opportunity to be able to come here and get a good reset,” Tagovailoa is quoted as saying to AtlantaFalcons.com. “I want to thank the Blank family. I want to thank Arthur (Blank). I want to thank Coach (Kevin) Stefanski. I want to thank the organization for allowing me this opportunity. I am excited.”
After having an unsuccessful season with the Miami Dolphins in 2025, the team parted ways with Tua Tagovailoa on March 6, 2026. Tagovailoa finished the 2025 season with 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
The 28-year-old quarterback’s best season came in 2023. He started all 17 games throwing for 4,624 passing yards, helping Miami achieve an 11-6 record and a spot in the playoffs. In 2024, he completed 72% of his passes which led the NFL. Tagovailoa was 44-32 during six seasons as with the Miami Dolphins.
Bringing in Tua Tagovailoa will heat things up in the quarterback room considering Michael Penix Jr. is expected to be ready by Week 1 in 2026.
Penix and Tagovailoa Expected to Compete for Starting Position
Injuries have been an issue for Michael Penix Jr. in the past. Penix underwent surgery on a partially torn ACL in his left knee the week of Nov. 24, 2025.
Penix Jr. entered the 2025 season as the starter for the Atlanta Falcons. Before Michael Penix Jr. went down, he completed 60.1 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,982 yards during the 2025 season. He had nine total touchdowns and 3 interceptions.
Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. are expected to compete for the starting position in 2026. Tagovailoa says looking forward to getting to work.
“If there’s no competition, I don’t think anyone’s getting better, in aspect of the field of work you’re in,” Tagovailoa said in the Atlanta Falcons article. “I am excited to be able to compete against [Penix], to compete with him, to be able to get to know my teammates on a personal level, knowing them from the outside in. We have a lot of good football players on this team, so I’m excited to get to play with these guys and get the chance to throw the ball around, conversate with them. I think it’s going to be great.”
Nonetheless, the Atlanta Falcons will have questions surrounding the quarterback position yet again going into another NFL season.