Falcons' Kevin Stefanski Sees Kindred Spirit in Tua Tagovailoa

Stefanski and Tagovailoa both aim to prove doubters wrong after tough 2025 campaigns.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 4:09pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the overlapping movements and perspectives of a football game or quarterback competition, with the colors of the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins blending together to create a dynamic, geometric visual representation of the story's themes.The Falcons' quarterback competition between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. reflects the shared experiences of coach Kevin Stefanski and his new signal-caller.Today in Miami

Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski expressed excitement about the team's addition of veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who will compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job. Stefanski sees similarities between himself and Tagovailoa, as both are looking to bounce back after difficult 2025 seasons that led to their departures from previous teams.

Why it matters

The Falcons' quarterback competition will be a major storyline throughout the offseason and into training camp, as the team looks to solidify its future at the position. Stefanski's experience of being fired after a tough season could help him relate to Tagovailoa's situation and foster an environment where both players can thrive.

The details

Stefanski praised Tagovailoa's fit with the Falcons, both in terms of football and personal factors. The head coach noted that Tagovailoa is looking for a place where he can compete for a starting job, which is what the Falcons are offering. Stefanski also sees similarities between himself and Tagovailoa, as both endured trying 2025 campaigns that led to their departures from previous teams.

  • Stefanski was fired from the Cleveland Browns after a 5-12 season in 2025.
  • Tagovailoa was benched for the final three games of the 2025 season with the Miami Dolphins.

The players

Kevin Stefanski

The head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who was previously fired from the Cleveland Browns after a difficult 2025 season.

Tua Tagovailoa

The veteran quarterback who signed with the Atlanta Falcons on the veteran minimum, and will compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job.

Michael Penix Jr.

The Falcons' 2024 first-round draft pick, who is looking to cement himself as the team's future quarterback after an injury-plagued 2025 season.

Ian Cunningham

The general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, who made the decision to bring in Tua Tagovailoa to compete for the starting quarterback job.

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What they’re saying

“Tua was a good fit for us. I think the football fit, the personal fit, I think he's looking for a place where he can go and compete for a starting job, and that's what we are offering to him. I think he's somebody that has always competed in career, look back at his time at Alabama, so him coming in, and he wants to do what's best for this football team, we're excited to have him.”

— Kevin Stefanski, Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons

“There's something to be said when you're fired. I can attest to that. You want to prove people wrong. You have a chip on your shoulder. I think where I'm coming into this, where Tua's coming into this is, listen, this is not exactly how you thought it would go, but guess what, that's the reality, and how are we gonna respond? I think that's what he's made of. You look back his career, you look back at his college career, he's responded.”

— Kevin Stefanski, Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons

What’s next

The Falcons' quarterback competition between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. will continue throughout the offseason and into training camp, with both players looking to prove themselves and cement their roles on the team.

The takeaway

This story highlights the shared experiences of Kevin Stefanski and Tua Tagovailoa, as both seek to bounce back from difficult 2025 campaigns and prove their doubters wrong. The Falcons' quarterback competition will be a key storyline to follow, as the team looks to solidify its future at the position.