Falcons GM Declares No Starters, All Must Earn Roles

Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. will have to compete for the starting QB job in Atlanta.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 9:56pm

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Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham made a surprising statement, declaring that there are no starters on the team and all players, including newly signed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, will have to compete for their roles. Tagovailoa was expected to have the inside track at the starting QB job, but Cunningham made it clear that both he and Michael Penix Jr. will have to earn the starting spot through competition.

Why it matters

This announcement from the Falcons GM challenges the common assumption that Tagovailoa would be the presumptive starter after signing with the team in free agency. It sets up an intriguing quarterback battle between Tagovailoa and Penix Jr. that will play out over the offseason and training camp, with neither player guaranteed the starting role.

The details

Cunningham stated that "everybody is coming in to compete" and that "there's no starters right now." This means that Tagovailoa, who was expected to take over as the Falcons' starting QB, will have to beat out Penix Jr. for the job. Penix Jr. is still recovering from an ACL injury, which was thought to give Tagovailoa the advantage, but Cunningham made it clear that both players will have to earn their spots.

  • The Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa in free agency in 2026.

The players

Ian Cunningham

The general manager of the Atlanta Falcons.

Tua Tagovailoa

The quarterback signed by the Falcons in free agency in 2026.

Michael Penix Jr.

The Falcons' quarterback who is recovering from an ACL injury.

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What they’re saying

“For Tua, coming in here, he knows he's coming in to compete, just like Michael knows that he's coming in to compete. Everybody, quite frankly, not just those two at the quarterback position, but everybody is coming in to compete. There's no starters right now.”

— Ian Cunningham, General Manager, Atlanta Falcons (NFL.com)

What’s next

The Falcons will hold a quarterback competition during the offseason and training camp to determine their starting QB for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

This announcement from the Falcons GM challenges the common assumption that Tagovailoa would be the presumptive starter, setting up an intriguing quarterback battle between him and Penix Jr. that will play out over the offseason. It underscores the Falcons' commitment to having all players, including high-profile free agent signings, earn their roles through competition.