Tua Tagovailoa and his NFL journey are heading to Atlanta after the Miami Dolphins decided to move on from their former franchise quarterback.
Tagovailoa plans to sign with the Atlanta Falcons after being released by the Miami Dolphins, according to ESPN. The reported one-year deal sets up a training camp quarterback battle with Michael Penix Jr. as Atlanta reshapes its offense heading into the 2026 season. The move also gives Tagovailoa a fresh opportunity after six seasons in Miami.
The Dolphins confirmed the split earlier this week as a new front office direction takes hold. New general manager Jon Eric Sullivan announced the organization will release Tagovailoa when free agency officially begins.
“As I shared with Tua, I have great respect for the person and player he is,” Sullivan said in a statement. On behalf of the Miami Dolphins, I expressed our gratitude for his many contributions, both on the field and in the community, during his six seasons in Miami.
Atlanta now adds another left-handed quarterback to a roster that already includes Penix. The former Washington standout started nine games last season for the Falcons, posting a 3 and 6 record while throwing for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also completed 60.1 percent of his passes before suffering a partially torn ACL in Week 11 against the Carolina Panthers.
Tagovailoa enters the competition after a challenging final year in Miami. He finished the 2025 season with a 6 and 8 record as a starter while throwing for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.
Miami is expected to designate Tagovailoa as a post June 1 release, which spreads roughly $99 million in dead cap across the next two seasons. Meanwhile, the Falcons hope the quarterback battle sparks momentum as the franchise looks to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
