Stefanski Sees Kindred Spirit in Tua Tagovailoa

Falcons coach believes QB wants to prove doubters wrong after release from Dolphins

Mar. 29, 2026 at 8:21pm

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New Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski believes he and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa have something in common - a desire to prove people wrong after being let go by their previous teams. Stefanski was fired by the Browns after the 2025 season, while Tagovailoa was released by the Dolphins and signed a one-year deal with Atlanta. Stefanski thinks Tagovailoa will have a 'chip on his shoulder' and be motivated to show he can perform at a higher level than he did in Miami.

Why it matters

Tagovailoa's ability to bounce back and lead the Falcons' offense will be crucial to the team's success this season, as they look to rebound from a disappointing 2025 campaign. Stefanski's belief that he and Tagovailoa share a similar mentality could help the two work together effectively.

The details

Stefanski told NFL Media's Mike Garafolo that he feels he and Tagovailoa both have something to prove after being let go by their previous teams. Stefanski was fired by the Browns, while Tagovailoa was released by the Dolphins and signed a one-year deal with the Falcons. Stefanski believes Tagovailoa will have a 'chip on his shoulder' and be motivated to show he can perform at a higher level than he did in Miami.

  • Stefanski was hired by the Falcons after being dismissed by the Browns at the end of the 2025 season.
  • Tagovailoa signed a one-year deal with the Falcons after being released by the Dolphins.

The players

Kevin Stefanski

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

Tua Tagovailoa

The quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, who was released by the Miami Dolphins and signed a one-year deal with Atlanta.

Michael Penix

The Falcons' starting quarterback, who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season.

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What they’re saying

“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?”

— Kevin Stefanski, Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons

What’s next

Michael Penix will have to recover from his torn ACL suffered last season, which should provide Tagovailoa an opportunity to show he can lead the Falcons' offense at a higher level than he did in Miami.

The takeaway

Stefanski's belief that he and Tagovailoa share a similar mentality of wanting to prove doubters wrong could help the two work together effectively and bring out the best in the quarterback as he looks to revive his career in Atlanta.