The Atlanta Falcons moved quickly to address their uncertain quarterback situation Monday, agreeing to a one-year deal with former Miami Dolphins starter Tua Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa was informed earlier Monday that Miami planned to release him, ending a six-season tenure with the franchise just one year after he signed a record-setting contract extension. His arrival in Atlanta creates an unusual dynamic: the Falcons will now have two left-handed quarterbacks on the roster, Tagovailoa and former first-round pick Michael Penix Jr..
Atlanta entered the offseason searching for answers at quarterback after Penix suffered a torn left ACL in Week 11 of the 2025 season. While Penix has said he believes he can return by Week 1 of the 2026 campaign, the team wanted a reliable option if his recovery takes longer than expected.
The Falcons were also expected to move on from veteran Kirk Cousins before the start of the new league year Wednesday, clearing the path for Tagovailoa to step in as a potential starter or bridge quarterback while Penix recovers.
Miami’s decision to release Tagovailoa comes with a massive financial consequence. The move will result in an NFL-record $99.2 million in dead money against the salary cap, surpassing the previous mark set when the Denver Broncos released Russell Wilson in 2024.
The Dolphins will designate the release as post-June 1, allowing the cap hit to be spread over two seasons. That leaves Miami with a $67.4 million dead cap charge in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027.
Tagovailoa is still owed $54 million in guaranteed money for 2026, though any salary he earns from Atlanta will offset part of that amount.
The Falcons’ quarterback decision comes amid a sweeping organizational reset. After finishing 8-9 last season, Atlanta dismissed head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot.
The team replaced them with former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and new general manager Ian Cunningham. Atlanta also created a new leadership position, hiring former franchise quarterback Matt Ryan as president of football operations to oversee the coaching staff and front office.
Those changes signal a fresh direction for the Falcons, and Tagovailoa could become an important part of the transition.
Tagovailoa was originally selected fifth overall by Miami in the 2020 NFL Draft after a standout career with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He became the Dolphins’ full-time starter in 2021 and gradually developed into one of the league’s most productive passers.
Under head coach Mike McDaniel, Tagovailoa had a breakout season in 2022, throwing for 3,548 yards and 25 touchdowns as Miami finished sixth in total offense. However, concussions that year raised long-term durability concerns.
He delivered the best statistical season of his career in 2023, leading the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and throwing 29 touchdowns while guiding Miami to the playoffs, where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC wild-card round.
That performance helped earn him a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension in 2024, the largest deal in Dolphins history.
Despite leading the league in completion percentage in 2024, Tagovailoa missed six games with injuries, including another concussion and a late-season hip issue. His play became increasingly inconsistent over the next two seasons.
In 2025, he threw a career-high 15 interceptions and was benched for the final three games of the season as Miami explored other options at quarterback.
Now, the former franchise centerpiece gets a fresh start in Atlanta — and a chance to revive his career in a new system while helping stabilize a Falcons team navigating a major transition at the most important position on the field.
