New Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will look to turn his career around in 2026. The former Alabama star spent his first six years with the Miami Dolphins. While he had some really high moments with the team, it was clear that his time was up in South Beach following a disappointing 2025 season.
Tagovailoa received significant criticism in Miami. But now he gets a fresh start as the Falcons quarterback and will try to prove all of his doubters wrong.
Will Falcons Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa Revive His Career?
Looking Back at His Career
Tua Tagovailoa played high school football at Saint Louis School in Honolulu, Hawaii. After receiving 17 college offers, he chose to play for the University of Alabama.
During his freshman year, Tagovailoa backed up current Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts. Later that season, Tagovailoa replaced Hurts (due to ineffective play) in the National Championship Game. Tagovailoa wound up throwing the game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass to Devonta Smith. Alabama defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 26-23 in overtime.
Tagovailoa finished the contest 14-of-24 for 166 passing yards and three touchdowns. For his efforts, he was named the game’s Offensive MVP.
As a sophomore, Tagovailoa won the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards. He also led the Crimson Tide to an appearance in the 2019 National Championship Game.
Tagovailoa later skipped his senior year and entered the 2020 NFL Draft. The Dolphins selected him with the fifth overall pick. Playing 10 games as a rookie (nine starts), he passed for 1,814 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Tagovailoa led the NFL in passer rating (105.5) during the 2022 season. That was also the year that he suffered multiple concussions, including one against the Cincinnati Bengals, which resulted in a fencing response.
2023 was the best season of Tagovailoa’s career. Named to the Pro Bowl, he led the league in passing yards (4,624) and powered the Dolphins to the playoffs.
Tagovailoa struggled last season, passing for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He was benched in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers and released following the season. He later signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Falcons.
Will He Become the Starting Falcons Quarterback?
To revive his career, Tagovailoa, of course, will have to emerge as the starting Falcons quarterback. He is currently competing with fellow lefty and former first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. for the job.
ESPN’s Marc Raimondi wrote that Tagovailoa has a head start at winning the starting job:
“Tagovailoa has been able to do everything, and Stefanski is on record saying he believes accuracy is the most important trait for a quarterback, something Tagovailoa historically has had in abundance. None of this means Tagovailoa will for sure win the job, especially if Penix impresses in training camp. But Tagovailoa might have something of a head start in this new offense.”
