Tua Tagovailoa Named Starting Quarterback for Atlanta Falcons

Tua Tagovailoa has been designated as the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons as they prepare for the upcoming season. This decision concludes a lengthy quarterback competition within the NFL.

Tagovailoa, who is 28 years old, will make his 77th regular season start against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. He joined the Falcons on a one-year contract at the veteran minimum salary after spending six seasons with the Miami Dolphins, where he was a Pro Bowl selection in 2023 but was released two years later.

He secured the starting position over Michael Penix Jr., the Falcons' eighth overall pick in the 2024 draft, who is recovering from a torn ACL. Although Penix is expected to compete for the starting role later in the season, Tagovailoa's accuracy, with a career completion percentage of 68%, has been highlighted by the coaching staff as a key factor in their decision.