Falcons News
Tua Tagovailoa Signs One-Year Deal With Atlanta Falcons After Dolphins Release
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa plans to sign a one-year, $1.3 million veteran minimum contract with the Atlanta Falcons, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal comes hours after the Miami Dolphins announced they would release Tagovailoa at the start of the new league year, Wednesday, absorbing an NFL-record $99.2 million in dead cap spread across two seasons.
Tagovailoa did not have to wait long on the open market. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Monday morning that Atlanta was making an aggressive early push to sign him, with the Falcons in need of a veteran quarterback as Michael Penix Jr. continues to recover from a torn ACL he suffered midway through the 2025 season.
The signing gives Atlanta two left-handed quarterbacks under the same roof. Penix, a third-year pro selected eighth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, has made 12 career starts with mixed results. Whether Tagovailoa will open 2026 as Atlanta’s starter or serve as a bridge option will likely depend on Penix’s recovery timeline.
New Atlanta head coach Kevin Stefanski, general manager Ian Cunningham, and president of football Matt Ryan, who joined the organization this offseason, all came to the Falcons with no prior ties to Penix. That dynamic opens the door for a legitimate quarterback competition in training camp. Kirk Cousins, who held the starting role in Atlanta before being released, is no longer with the team.
Tagovailoa, 28, spent six seasons in Miami after being selected fifth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Alabama. He led the NFL in passing yards in 2023 with 4,624 yards and a career-best 29 touchdowns. His 2025 season took a sharp turn. He threw for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and a career-high 15 interceptions across 14 starts before being benched in favor of Quinn Ewers for the final three games of the year. Miami finished 7-10 and missed the playoffs for the second straight season.
The Dolphins owe Tagovailoa $54 million in guaranteed money for 2026, which allowed Atlanta to sign him at the league minimum. Because of that guaranteed money already owed by Miami, Tagovailoa represents minimal financial risk for the Falcons.
Tagovailoa’s career has been marked by a documented history of concussions, a subject that drew significant attention in 2022 and has shadowed him throughout his time in the league. How Atlanta’s new medical and coaching staff evaluates that history going forward remains to be seen.