Tua Tagovailoa, Falcons Reportedly Agree to Contract Amid Penix Injury Rehab After Dolphins Exit

After being released by the Miami Dolphins this offseason, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will look to revive his career in a new home.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter and CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones, the Atlanta Falcons signed Tagovailoa to a contract on Monday. The Dolphins are still on the hook for Tagovailoa's $99 million dead money charge, which will be split over two years after he was designated as a post-June 1 cut.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that the Falcons were "making a strong push" to sign Tagovailoa after the Dolphins announced his release, and Atlanta got its man.

Tagovailoa's release from Miami came just one year into the franchise-record extension he signed in 2024, and he was set to make $54 million guaranteed during the 2026 season. The Dolphins are looking at a $67.4 million dead hit against the salary cap in 2026, followed by $31.8 million in 2027.

The No. 5 pick in the 2020 NFL draft, Tagovailoa earned the lone Pro Bowl selection of his career in 2023 when he led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards while throwing a career-high 29 touchdowns. However, he has been unable to regain that form in recent seasons.

The 2025 campaign was a disaster for the 28-year-old, as he threw a career-high 15 interceptions before being benched for the final three games of the year by former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who was fired at the end of the year and replaced by former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.

The new regime made it clear early in the offseason that Tagovailoa's time in Miami was coming to an end soon, and he will now be joining a Falcons squad that went 8-9 in 2025 and missed the playoffs for the eighth straight year. Head coach Raheem Morris was fired at the end of the year and replaced by former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Tagovailoa will likely compete with third-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who is recovering from a torn ACL, for the starting job for the 2026 season. He should be motivated to prove he can be the quarterback he once was while Atlanta prepares to chase a playoff spot this year.