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Tua Tagovailoa’s wife, Annah Tagovailoa, took to social media to praise her husband for his reported move to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Dolphins released the 28-year-old quarterback on Monday after six seasons, and the Falcons quickly swooped in, agreeing to a one-year deal with him, according to multiple reports.
“So excited to get to Atlanta! I’m so proud of you and can’t wait to cheer you on!!” Tagovailoa wrote to his Instagram stories.
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Tua Tagovailoa (1) of the Miami Dolphins practices at the Baptist Health Training Complex in Miami Gardens, Florida on July 28, 2025. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Pro Bowl quarterback will be the other left-handed quarterback in the Falcons’ quarterback room, along with Michael Penix Jr.
The Dolphins will incur an NFL-record $99.2 million in dead money against the salary cap to release Tagovailoa. The team designated Tagovailoa as a release after June 1, allowing the team to split the exorbitant contract over two seasons, with $67.4 million counting against the cap this season and $31.8 million against the cap in 2027.
The Dolphins went 7-10 and missed the playoffs last season, benching Tagovailoa in favor of Quinn Ewers for the final three games, capping a rough season for the former Alabama star.
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Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa (1) walks off the field after a failed two-point conversion attempt in the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 15, 2025. (Photo: Justin Berl/AP)
Last season, in 14 games, Tagovailoa completed 67.7% of his passes for 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Tagovailoa had the second most interceptions in the NFL, trailing only Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith, who had 17.
The Dolphins signed Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension after he led the NFL in passing yards with 4,624 and threw for 29 touchdowns in 2023.
With the Falcons, he will compete with Penix for playing time. The Falcons drafted Penix with the 8th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, even though they signed Kirk Cousins in free agency in the offseason.
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) talks with Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) after an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
The Falcons benched Cousins for the final three starts of the year in 2024, and Penix took over. He started nine games in his sophomore season before tearing his ACL in his left knee.
In his 12 career starts, Penix has completed 59.6% of his passes for 2,757 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. Between his rehab and middling production, there’s a chance Tagovailoa would be their Week 1 starter.
