Tua Tagovailoa Plans to Sign with Falcons After Dolphins Release

The former Miami quarterback will look to revive his career in Atlanta.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Tua Tagovailoa, the former first-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins, plans to sign a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons after being released by Miami. Tagovailoa struggled in his final season with the Dolphins, going 6-8 as the starter and throwing for 2,660 yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. The Dolphins are expected to make Tagovailoa a post-June 1 designation, taking on $99 million in dead cap space over the next two seasons. Tagovailoa will now look to compete for the starting job in Atlanta with fellow left-handed quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who was drafted by the Falcons in the first round in 2024.

Why it matters

This move represents a fresh start for Tagovailoa, who was unable to live up to his draft status in Miami. The Falcons are desperate to return to the playoffs, having last made the postseason in 2017, and Tagovailoa will have the opportunity to compete for the starting job and potentially revive his NFL career.

The details

The Dolphins officially announced they will release Tagovailoa when free agency begins, cutting ties with the team's 2020 first-round draft choice as a new regime moves in. Miami quickly found a potential Tagovailoa replacement, agreeing to terms with Malik Willis, who the Dolphins' new general manager and head coach know well from Willis' time backing up Jordan Love with the Green Bay Packers. With a one-year deal in Atlanta, Tagovailoa will battle it out in training camp with Penix, whom the Falcons selected 8th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

  • On Monday, the Dolphins officially announced they will release Tagovailoa.
  • Tagovailoa plans to sign a one-year deal with the Falcons when free agency begins.

The players

Tua Tagovailoa

The former first-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins who struggled in his final season with the team, going 6-8 as the starter and throwing for 2,660 yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Michael Penix Jr.

The quarterback the Falcons drafted in the first round in 2024 out of Washington, who is expected to compete with Tagovailoa for the starting job in Atlanta.

Jon-Eric Sullivan

The new general manager of the Miami Dolphins, who announced the team will release Tagovailoa.

Jeff Hafley

The new head coach of the Miami Dolphins, who is part of the new regime that is moving on from Tagovailoa.

Malik Willis

The quarterback the Dolphins agreed to terms with, who backed up Jordan Love with the Green Bay Packers in recent seasons.

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What they’re saying

“As I shared with Tua, I have great respect for the person and player he is. On behalf of the Miami Dolphins, I expressed our gratitude for his many contributions, both on the field and in the community, during his six seasons in Miami.”

— Jon-Eric Sullivan, Miami Dolphins General Manager (wxbc1043.com)

What’s next

Tagovailoa will compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting quarterback job in Atlanta during training camp.

The takeaway

This move represents a fresh start for Tua Tagovailoa, who was unable to live up to his draft status in Miami. The Falcons are hoping he can revive his career in Atlanta and help the team return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.