Falcons' Tua Tagovailoa Looks to Bounce Back After Tough Dolphins Stint

Quarterback signs with Atlanta, says 'best football' is still ahead of him after disappointing 2025 season in Miami.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 4:04am

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Tua Tagovailoa is looking to put his difficult 2025 season with the Miami Dolphins behind him, as he joins the Atlanta Falcons on a fresh start. The former Pro Bowler acknowledged his struggles last year, when he threw for 2,660 yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, leading to him being benched for rookie Quinn Ewers. Tagovailoa believes his 'best football is still ahead' as he competes for the starting job in Atlanta alongside Michael Penix Jr. and Trevor Siemian.

Why it matters

Tagovailoa was once considered a rising star in the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in 2023. His rapid decline in 2025 raised questions about his long-term potential and future in the league. His move to Atlanta represents an opportunity to revive his career and prove he can still be an elite quarterback in the NFL.

The details

After being released by the Dolphins, Tagovailoa signed with the Falcons, who are looking to rebuild their offense under new head coach Kevin Stefanski. Tagovailoa will compete with Michael Penix Jr. and Trevor Siemian for the starting quarterback job, and he knows he'll need to show significant improvement from his poor 2025 campaign to win the job.

  • Tagovailoa was released by the Dolphins in March 2026.
  • Tagovailoa signed with the Falcons in March 2026, shortly after his release from Miami.

The players

Tua Tagovailoa

A quarterback who was once a Pro Bowler with the Miami Dolphins, but struggled in 2025 before being released and signing with the Atlanta Falcons.

Michael Penix Jr.

A quarterback who played for the Falcons in 2025, throwing for 1,982 yards with 9 touchdowns and 3 interceptions before suffering a season-ending ACL injury.

Trevor Siemian

A veteran quarterback who signed with the Falcons in March 2026, joining Tagovailoa and Penix Jr. in the team's quarterback competition.

Quinn Ewers

A rookie quarterback who took over as the starter for the Dolphins in 2025 after Tagovailoa was benched.

Kevin Stefanski

The new offensive-minded head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who will be tasked with reviving the team's offense.

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What they’re saying

“Last year was not the best year for me, I'm looking for a fresh start. I think the best football is still ahead of me.”

— Tua Tagovailoa, Quarterback

“So, just got to play better football. That's what that really means. There's no other way to sugarcoat that or go around that.”

— Tua Tagovailoa, Quarterback

“I embrace the competition. I'm excited to work alongside with Mike and I'm excited to work with the team, with the guys. I think it's going to be fun this year.”

— Tua Tagovailoa, Quarterback

What’s next

Tagovailoa will compete with Michael Penix Jr. and Trevor Siemian for the Falcons' starting quarterback job during the team's offseason program and training camp.

The takeaway

Tua Tagovailoa's move to the Falcons represents a critical juncture in his NFL career, as he looks to bounce back from a disastrous 2025 season and prove he can still be an elite quarterback in the league. The competition in Atlanta's quarterback room will be fierce, but Tagovailoa is embracing the challenge and believes his 'best football is still ahead' of him.