FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The signing of Tua Tagovailoa during the first week of free agency not only gives the Atlanta Falcons two left-handed passers in their quarterback room. It also provides them with two first-round selections at the game's most important position who have shown ability commensurate with their draft slots.
Atlanta's plan is to let its two lefty first-rounders duke it out this offseason, both off and on the field, whenever Michael Penix Jr. is cleared to resume activities after undergoing knee surgery last season.
"For Tua coming in here, he knows he's coming in to compete, just like Michael knows that he's coming in to compete," Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said the day Tagovailoa was signed.
Speaking with the Atlanta media for the first time, Tagovailoa embraced the competitive tone set by Cunningham. Here are the five biggest takeaways from his first press conference as a Falcon:
'I am no stranger to competition.'
Despite starting 76 of his 78 game appearances for the Miami Dolphins since entering the league six years ago, Tagovailoa didn't express any notions of entitlement to the starter role in Atlanta. Walking into a starting job was not a factor in his decision-making as a free agent, Tagovailoa said, and he expected competition to be a reality wherever he went.
"I would say you don't choose a team based off of whether I'm going to be starting or not," he said. "I think you look at the entirety of the group, right? As I was looking at the other teams, you know, I knew I had to compete regardless of what that was going to look like.
". . . I am no stranger to competition. Had it in college. And I would say competition is just going to be there. And competition enhances the play of everyone that you're surrounded with."
Tagovailoa's ability to thrive in the most competitive circumstances was apparent from his first season at the University of Alabama. After spending the majority of the year behind incumbent Tide starter Jalen Hurts, albeit getting a good amount of playing time in blowout wins, Tagovailoa famously subbed into the 2018 national championship game after halftime and led Alabama to an overtime comeback victory against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Upon entering the NFL as the No. 5 overall pick, Tagovailoa again had to battle his way on the field. He did not make his first start until Week 8 of his rookie season, but he once again quickly showed he belonged. Tagovailoa won his first three starts and threw five touchdowns with no interceptions in those games.
"You're either a competitor or you're not. And so I embrace the competition," he said. "I'm excited to work alongside with Mike and I'm excited to work, you know, with the team, with the guys. I think it's going to be fun this year."
'Whatever I can do to help Mike's game will help me.'
Tagovailoa sees collaborative upside in conducting team activities and training camp amidst the backdrop of competition.
The phrase "iron sharpens iron" has become commonplace in the NFL as a shorthand for the way competition can level up all involved parties. Tagovailoa spoke to that belief when asked whether he was interested in offering guidance to Penix or if the competitive mindset supersedes any mentorship.
"I look at myself when I was a rookie and I was very grateful for the chance that I had with someone like Ryan Fitzpatrick," Tagovailoa said. ". . . I think whatever I can do to help Mike's game will help me because if I'm helping getting him better, it's helping me get better, vice versa, we're then helping the team get better."
Of course, it helps that the two quarterbacks have a history that predates their time as teammates. Tagovailoa's younger brother, Tualia, was a prospect in the same 2023 draft class as Penix, so there was already a degree of familiarity. When Tagovailoa joined the Falcons, he said he reached out directly to Penix.
By nature of the position, quarterbacks are inherently viewed among a team's leaders and the tone they set can ripple throughout the roster.
"It's the collection of what's best for the team, not just the individual," Tagovailoa said. "So, I'm going to do all that I can to help him and whatever he needs with his game. And, by doing that, I hope it enhances his game to enhance mine and vice versa. And we keep growing and battling together in that sense."
'The best football is still ahead of me.'
In six seasons, Tagovailoa compiled a 44-32 record as a starting quarterback. During the 2022 season, he led all NFL quarterbacks in many different categories, including the percentage of passes that went for touchdowns (6.3%), yards per completion (13.7) and passer rating (105.5). In 2023, Tagovailoa led the league with 4,624 passing yards while helping the Dolphins attain an 11-6 record and reach the playoffs.
Tagovailoa went 6-8 as a starter in 2025 and threw for 2,660 yards with 20 touchdowns and a career-high 15 interceptions. In discussing what lay ahead of him in Atlanta, he made it clear that he expects more from himself.
"If you're looking at last year, my play wasn't up to the standard of the way I've been playing football the past, what, three years since the new contract," Tagovailoa said. "So, just got to play better football. That's what that really means. There's no other way to sugarcoat that or go around that."
Entering a new situation, Tagovailoa made it clear he still has a strong love for the game and the drive to play it at a high level. He explained that he's reached out to a couple of veteran quarterbacks to help him grow and learn from his past season. To help him keep perspective, he said he thinks of what his younger self would say to him in this position and that he doesn't take for granted the opportunity to continue living out his dream.
That is motivation enough as a new chapter begins.
"I'm looking for a fresh start, but a fresh start in the sense of being able to compete, being able to go back out there and playing football, good football," Tagovailoa said. "And I think the best football is still ahead of me."
'All in all, I think it can be really dangerous.'
Tagovailoa — or Penix, for that matter — is far from the only first-rounder featured on the Falcons' offense. Their main offensive trio of wide receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts and running back Bijan Robinson were all first-round selections, a distinction shared by newly signed wide receiver Jahan Dotson. Atlanta's offensive line also has three first-round draft picks in Chris Lindstrom, Jake Matthews and Kaleb McGary.
There are a lot of pieces in place for this group, and Tagovailoa likes how they can all fit together.
"You got YAC (yards after catch) in Kyle Pitts. You can throw it in the vicinity of Drake; Drake's going to catch it. You've got a back like Bijan — I mean, we had [De'Von] Achane last year, and you can see the similarities in the style of run. I think Bijan might be a bit more physical, but in terms of speed, elusiveness, [they are similar]. Then you've got the play-action game to work off of that to get these guys the ball. All in all, I think it can be really dangerous.
". . . You got all these guys. You got a good line. And I'm excited to be able to use those weapons in OTAs and be able to just work with these guys."
'You either love it or you don't.'
During his six years in the league, Tagovailoa has dealt with his share of injuries, including multiple concussions. Prior to signing him, the Falcons conducted a medical review of the quarterback's health and Cunningham explained, "everything's good there" when asked about the team's evaluation.
On Tuesday, Tagovailoa had the opportunity to discuss his health and share his overall mindset.
"The game of football will always entail physicality, right? So you can never foreshadow what the future is going to look like in terms of your health, whether it's an ankle, whether it's a hand injury, a concussion, a hip injury, whatever that may be," Tagovailoa said. "In terms of health, went through all the protocols of what I needed to do for the Falcons. Everything came out good. Some things are looking way better than the guys might have thought.
"So, you either love it or you don't. That's what I would say."
