The Falcons brought in Tua Tagovailoa to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting quarterback role, Atlanta general manager Ian Cunningham confirmed Friday.
“For Tua coming in here, he knows he’s coming in to compete,” Cunningham said during a virtual news conference, per ESPN. “Just like Michael knows that he’s coming in to compete and everybody, quite frankly — not just those two at the quarterback position — but everybody’s coming in to compete.”
Tagovailoa agreed to a one-year, $1.3 million deal earlier this week after being released by the Miami Dolphins, who owe him $54 million guaranteed for 2026.
A first-round draft pick (fifth overall) in 2020 and the NFL’s leading passer and a Pro Bowl selection in 2023, Tagovailoa compiled a 44-32 record in six seasons in Miami.
The Falcons learned from an earlier misstep by letting Penix know beforehand about the Tagovailoa signing. In 2024, Atlanta drafted Penix with the eighth overall pick just weeks after signing fellow quarterback Kirk Cousins to a $100 million guaranteed contract. Cousins was confused and surprised by the draft selection and ultimately lost his job to Penix late in the 2024 campaign. Cousins was released this week.
“You don’t want to blindside somebody, and that’s just how we operate,” said Cunningham, who was hired in January along with new head coach Kevin Stefanski and president of football Matt Ryan.
“We want to have open conversations and communication, and I feel like we did that in regards to Michael and Tua.”
Penix, a left-hander like Tagovailoa, is recovering from a torn ACL sustained in mid-November. He has said he will be ready for the season opener.
Penix, 25, is 4-8 as a starter, completing 59.6% of his passes for 2,757 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Tagovailoa, 28, has completed 68.0% of his throws for 18,166 yards with 120 touchdowns and 59 interceptions.
