Tua Tagovailoa is set to open the 2026 season as the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback.
Atlanta announced Monday morning that Tagovailoa won the Week 1 job, beating out Michael Penix Jr. for the role. Penix had started nine games for the Falcons in 2025 before season-ending surgery cut his year short.
The move gives Tagovailoa a fresh start after arriving from Miami during the offseason. The former Alabama star is entering his seventh NFL season, and he’ll do it in a new uniform after spending his first six years with the Dolphins.
Tagovailoa came into the league as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and built a long résumé in Miami. He appeared in 78 games and made 76 starts, completing 68% of his passes for 18,166 yards. His career average sits at 7.5 yards per attempt, and he has thrown 120 touchdowns against 59 interceptions.
He’s already put together a few standout seasons. Tagovailoa made the Pro Bowl in 2023, led the NFL in passing yards that year with 4,624, topped the league in passer rating in 2022 at 105.5, and finished first in completion percentage in 2024 at 72.9%.
Now the focus turns to how he responds after a rough 2025 campaign. Tagovailoa threw 15 interceptions in 14 games last season, the highest total of his career, and the Falcons are clearly betting he can get back on track.
Atlanta opens the 2026 season on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
In Other News...
Keelon Russells Debut Left Alabama With One Clear Concern
Keelon Russells first Alabama appearance offered enough to see why the staff is so intrigued, but it also showed why the postgame film will matter. Against East Carolina, the freshman quarterback had stretches where he tried to make plays down the line instead of taking what was available underneath, and the overall snapshot was of a debut with some promise mixed with some decisions Alabama will want cleaned up quickly.
The same game also gave the Tide a useful look at other parts of the offense, from the tight ends working as both receivers and run blockers to concerns around Coleman-Williams mechanics. On the other side of the ball, freshman defensive back Jireh Edwards was around the action on the sideline even though he did not play after an August injury, leaving one more item for Alabama to monitor as the opener is absorbed and the depth chart keeps taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Cole Cubelic Saw One Encouraging Sign In Keelon Russells Debut
Week 1 of the 2026 college football season gave the SEC a clean opening weekend, and ESPN analyst Cole Cubelic spent much of it picking apart what he saw from each league team on social media. For Alabama, his attention naturally landed on Keelon Russells debut, which came in a conference that looked sharp overall and left plenty of room for early readjustments around the league.
Cubelic liked the way Russell handled the offense, noting the timing on his throws and the way he used his legs when it mattered. Even with that encouraging first impression, Alabama still has a bigger-picture checklist to work through, and Cubelic pointed to the need to do a better job managing the edges as the Tide move deeper into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Keelon Russell's Early Alabama Impact Comes With One Clear Concern
Keelon Russells debut gave Alabama plenty to like, especially the way the freshman quarterback helped spark the offense on the ground in the season opener. He led the Tide rushers in that game and even found the end zone on a short touchdown run, an encouraging sign for a player whose mobility can add another layer to the offense.
The concern, though, is what comes with those extra yards. Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien said Russell needs to keep developing as a quarterback and not lean so heavily on running, with a particular focus on learning to slide and avoid unnecessary contact. For a young quarterback trying to settle into the job, protecting himself may end up being just as important as making plays. [Read more 🡒]