Tua Tagovailoa will compete with Michael Penix Jr. for Falcons’ starting job
The Atlanta Falcons haven’t had a lot of luck at the quarterback position since one-time NFL MVP Matt Ryan retired, as it has been a revolving door at the position.
Heading into the 2026 NFL season, the Falcons have another quarterback controversy brewing, with the team parting ways with veteran Kirk Cousins and recently bringing in former Miami Dolphins star Tua Tagovailoa.
It was initially thought Tagovailoa would simply be a backup to Michael Penix Jr., but apparently that’s not the case, as it will be an open competition for the starting job, according to general manager Ian Cunningham, via ESPN.
“For Tua coming in here, he knows he’s coming in to compete,” Cunningham said during a virtual news conference. “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.”
This is an interesting development, as it immediately puts pressure on Penix, who seemed to be a player being groomed to be the new face of the franchise moving forward.
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However, with Penix dealing with his fair share of injuries during his playing career thus far, the Falcons may be setting up a backup plan with Tagovailoa. Ironically, the former Dolphins star has also had his injury issues, namely the concussions he’s sustained, which have shed doubt on his long-term future in the NFL.
It’ll be interesting to see how things pan out in Atlanta and which quarterback will be under center to start the 2026 campaign.
