On Monday morning, the Miami Dolphins announced that they would officially release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at the start of the NFL‘s new league year on Wednesday. Tagovailoa addressed his impending release in an emotional Instagram post, expressing “deep regret” that he wasn’t able to win a Super Bowl for Miami.
The Atlanta Falcons signed Tagovailoa to a one-year contract on Friday, and the 2020 No. 5 overall pick had a more succinct, optimistic message for Falcons fans.
“What’s up, guys?” Tagovailoa said in this video posted by the Falcons. “Tua Tagovailoa here in the Falcons’ facility. Just got done signing. Just wanted to say that I’m very excited. Me and my family are excited to be here and part of the organization. Rise up, baby.”
Earlier Friday morning, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport relayed a message from Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham: “[Tua] knows he’s coming in to compete. Like Michael [Penix Jr.] knows he’s coming in to compete.”
The Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall in 2024. The 25-year-old beat out veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins for Atlanta’s starting job last season. Penix Jr. posted 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions on 60.1% completion across nine games.
Penix Jr. tore his ACL in late November. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported at the time of Penix Jr.’s ACL reconstruction surgery that his recovery was “expected to take about nine months.”
Schefter noted, “If the nine-month period holds up, Penix could be ready for the start of the 2026 season, but there are no certainties, especially for players who have injured both ACLs. Players recovering from another ACL surgery sometimes take longer to return, and no one knows how Penix’s recovery will play out.”
Tagovailoa’s arrival is seen by some as an insurance policy. Schefter reported on Monday that Tagovailoa was expected to sign with the Falcons and pointed out that Atlanta will have two left-handed quarterbacks in 2026.
That will come in handy if Tagovailoa does need to start the season for Atlanta while Penix Jr. continues to recover, or if he wins the starting job outright, because new Falcons offensive coordinator Tommy Rees won’t have to alter the scheme. The Falcons finished 8-9 last season, which led to the hiring of head coach Kevin Stefanski and his coaching staff.
Tagovailoa had an up-and-down tenure in Miami. The 2023 season was his most productive, as he led the NFL with 4,624 yards to go with 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. In 2024, he suffered his latest concussion in September and a hip injury in December, but in the 11 games he played, he led the NFL with a 72.9 completion percentage.
Last season, Tagovailoa struggled immensely. He threw for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions before getting benched in mid-December. In January, Tagovailoa told The Palm Beach Post‘s Joe Schad that a fresh start “would be dope,” and he’d “be good with it.” The first step in reinventing his career will be avoiding the bench in Atlanta.