Tua Tagovailoa is getting the first crack at the Falcons’ starting job, and the timing makes it clear this is no ordinary Week 1 assignment.
Atlanta named the former Alabama quarterback its starter for Sunday’s opener in Pittsburgh against the Steelers, a move that had been building for some time while Michael Penix worked his way back from the ACL tear he suffered in November of last year. The decision finally came Monday, with the regular season now only six days away.
Tagovailoa arrives in Atlanta on a one-year “prove it” deal after being released by the Miami Dolphins following last season. For a quarterback whose career has been shaped by injuries and uneven stretches, this is a chance to reset everything. It also looks like his final shot to establish himself as an NFL starter.
His college career at Alabama still stands as the foundation of his reputation. He first announced himself as a freshman when he came off the bench at halftime of the National Championship Game and delivered one of the most memorable plays in college football history, hitting a 41-yard touchdown pass in overtime to beat Georgia.
The next year, in his first season as the starter, he put together one of the greatest campaigns college football has seen. A late injury, though, opened the door for Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray to pass him in Heisman voting. Tagovailoa was excellent again in 2019, but a severe hip injury in his final Alabama game against Mississippi State changed the arc of his career.
That injury never really left him. In the NFL, concussions have only added to the physical setbacks that have followed him since college.
Even so, Tagovailoa has had real high points as a pro. He led the NFL in QB Rating in 2022 and finished ninth in MVP voting.
In 2023, he topped the league with 4,624 passing yards. In 2024, he led the NFL in completion percentage at 72.9.
But his production fell off in 2025, and turnovers climbed, which led Miami to move on from the former No. 5 overall pick.
Now he gets another starting chance in a spot that should have fit him cleanly, with Penix still not back to full strength. The leash may not be long, but Tagovailoa will open the season as the Falcons’ quarterback. If this one slips away, another chance to start in the NFL may be hard to come by.
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Tua Tagovailoa Just Got The Atlanta Chance Alabama Fans Wanted
For Alabama fans who kept wondering whether Tua Tagovailoa might finally get a fresh NFL stage, the Falcons have given him one. Atlanta announced that Tagovailoa will open the 2026 season as its starting quarterback after an offseason trade from the Miami Dolphins, putting him in line to lead a team that spent the summer sorting out its quarterback picture with Michael Penix Jr.
The assignment comes with an immediate test, too. The Falcons are set to begin the season on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers, so Tagovailoa will get his first chance to settle into the job under pressure and in front of a national audience. For Alabama backers, it is the kind of early-season storyline that ties their former star to a new opportunity and a new set of expectations right away. [Read more 🡒]
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
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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 🡒]