The Atlanta Falcons have settled on Tua Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback opening the...
The Atlanta Falcons have settled on Tua Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback opening the season Sunday (Sept. 13) in Pittsburgh, reports say. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The Saints’ most-hated rival finally has settled on a starting quarterback to open the NFL season next weekend.
The QB1 nod has gone to Tua Tagovailoa, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday (Sept. 7), citing sources.
The former Alabama and Miami Dolphins starter becomes the Falcons’ sixth different starting quarterback in the past six season openers.
Falcons Week 1 starting QB by season:
🏈2021: Matt Ryan
🏈2022: Marcus Mariota
🏈2023: Desmond Ridder
🏈2024: Kirk Cousins
🏈2025: Michael Penix Jr.
🏈2026: Tua Tagovailoa pic.twitter.com/snYjzhIcGO
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 7, 2026
Tagovailoa, 28, led the NFL in passing yards (4,624) in 2023, but has struggled with concussions, other injuries and ineffectiveness since.
The Dolphins released him in March after he threw 15 interceptions last season. The Falcons signed him to a one-year, $1.3 million contract as last year’s starter Michael Penix Jr. continues to recover from knee surgery.
Tagovailoa will start for the Falcons this Sunday in Pittsburgh. The Saints host Atlanta for the first of their two meetings in Week 4, an Oct. 5 game in Caesars Superdome on Monday Night Football.
Atlanta’s decision leaves the Saints’ Tyler Shough, the Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield, the Panthers’ Bryce Young and Tagovailoa as the season-opening starting quarterbacks in the NFC South.
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