Tua Tagovailoa will have an opportunity to compete for the starting job in Atlanta, GM says

Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa smiles on the bench during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Nov. 30, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray, File)

Newly signed Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will have an opportunity to compete for the starting job in Atlanta, where Michael Penix Jr. is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in November, general manager Ian Cunningham said Friday.

“For Tua coming in here, he knows he’s coming in to compete, just like Michael knows he’s coming in to compete. Quite frankly, not just those two at the quarterback position, but everybody’s coming in to compete,” Cunningham told reporters. ”We’re excited to have Tua, but we’re excited to have all the players that we were able to get in this free agent class.”

Cunningham said he spoke with the agent for Penix before signing Tagovailoa, who was released this week by the Miami Dolphins, and new coach Kevin Stefanski talked to the young quarterback personally.