With Michael Penix still not back to 100% after tearing his ACL in November of last year, the expectation has been for a while that former Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa would serve as at least a bridge starter for the Atlanta Falcons this year.
Unfortunately, an uneven performance in the preseason and Training Camp delayed the decision. But on Monday, with Atlanta's season opener just six days away, a decision had to be made. The Falcons named Tagovailoa the starting QB to open the season:
Sources: Tua Tagovailoa has been named the Falcons’ starting quarterback for next Sunday’s regular-season opener in Pittsburgh vs. the Steelers. pic.twitter.com/Ak3RKFF5dH
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 7, 2026
Tua Tagovailoa will start for the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1
Tagovailoa may not have a long leash, but he'll start for the Falcons on Sunday in Pittsburgh against the Steelers.
The former Alabama QB was released by the Miami Dolphins after last season, and he signed a one-year "prove it" deal with the Falcons, looking to resurrect his NFL career and prove he's still a capable starting QB. This is probably his last chance.
Injuries have derailed what could have been a special career for the former Tide superstar. Tagovailoa was a special player in college. He broke onto the scene as a freshman at Alabama, coming off the bench at halftime of the National Championship Game and producing one of the most iconic plays in college football history when he threw a 41-yard touchdown pass in overtime to beat Georgia.
The next season, his first as a starter, he was electric. He put together one of the best seasons in college football history, but a late injury allowed Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray to surpass him in Heisman voting.
Tagovailoa was terrific again in 2019, but he suffered a devastating hip injury in his final game with Alabama against Mississippi State. He's never really been the same player since. In the NFL, multiple concussions have compounded his previous injury issues.
He still put together some impressive NFL seasons. He led the NFL in QB Rating in 2022 and finished 9th in MVP voting. In 2023, he led the NFL with 4624 passing yards. In 2024, he led the NFL in completion percentage at 72.9. His production dipped, and his turnovers spiked in 2025, which led to the Dolphins' decision to move on from the former No. 5 overall pick.
He still had a market as a free agent, but he landed in a situation that would allow him an opportunity to start again. It's a perfect scenario with Penix's injury and him still working himself back. But this is almost certainly his last chance as a starter. He might have backup opportunities still down the road, but it's hard to see him getting another chance as a starting QB in the NFL if things go awry in Atlanta.
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