Atlanta Falcons name Tagovailoa starter
The Atlanta Falcons named Tua Tagovailoa their starting quarterback for the 2026 season opener on September 7. Atlanta is scheduled to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 13 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
The Falcons signed Tagovailoa during the offseason after his departure from the Miami Dolphins. His selection ended Atlanta’s quarterback competition with Michael Penix Jr., which continued through training camp and preseason preparation.
Kevin Stefanski explains quarterback call
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Atlanta evaluated its quarterbacks throughout the offseason rather than relying only on exhibition games. Tagovailoa’s work since April, reps, preseason appearances, and first-team opportunities shaped the Week 1 choice.
Tagovailoa handled most starting-offense periods during training camp and opened Atlanta’s first and final preseason games. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees highlighted his veteran experience, while Stefanski emphasized the thorough evaluation period that informed the decision.
Tua Tagovailoa completes 76.9% of passes
Tagovailoa completed 10 of 13 passes for 117 yards during Atlanta’s preseason. He posted a 76.9% completion rate without a passing touchdown, interception, or sack, finishing his two appearances with a 103.7 passer rating.
His strongest preseason game came August 28 against Miami, when he completed seven of eight passes for 95 yards and a 116.2 rating. Atlanta won 17-12 after Tagovailoa previously posted 22 passing yards versus Denver.
Michael Penix Jr. inactive for Week 1
Michael Penix Jr. is set to be inactive for Atlanta’s Week 1 opener as he continues recovering from the ACL injury he suffered in November 2025.
Penix did not appear in Atlanta’s preseason games and was not yet considered fully ready for the season opener. He said he was very close to full health, while the Falcons continued to take a cautious approach to his return.
Cooper Rush becomes Atlanta backup
Kevin Stefanski named Cooper Rush as Atlanta’s backup quarterback for the Week 1 game against Pittsburgh after the Falcons finalized their quarterback plan.
Rush entered the 2026 season with 42 NFL appearances and 10 starts, totaling 3,494 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He had also completed 60.7% of his career passes.
Tua Tagovailoa signs $1.215 million deal
Tua Tagovailoa signed with Atlanta on March 13, 2026, after six seasons in Miami. His one-year Falcons contract is worth $1.215 million, giving the team an experienced option while Penix continues his recovery process.
Miami selected Tagovailoa fifth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft after his Alabama career. Before his first Falcons regular-season appearance, he had played 78 games, made 76 starts, and posted a 44-32 record.
Tua Tagovailoa has 18,166 career yards
Tagovailoa enters 2026 with 18,166 NFL passing yards across six Miami seasons. His career totals include 1,647 completions on 2,421 attempts, 120 touchdowns, 59 interceptions, and a 96.4 passer rating.
His highest single-season yardage total came in 2023, when he produced 4,624 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. That year also included a 69.3% completion rate, a 101.1 rating, and 17 regular-season starts for Miami.
Tua Tagovailoa posted 2,660 yards in 2025
Tagovailoa completed 260 of 384 passes during the 2025 season with Miami. He finished with 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, a 67.7% completion rate, and a passer rating of 88.4.
Those 2025 numbers followed two seasons with passer ratings above 101. Tagovailoa posted 101.1 in 2023, then recorded 101.4 across 11 starts in 2024 before joining Atlanta during the 2026 offseason.
Bijan Robinson produced 2,298 scrimmage yards
Bijan Robinson posted 1,478 rushing yards for Atlanta in 2025. He averaged 5.2 per carry, added 820 as a receiver with four touchdown catches, and finished with 2,298 yards from scrimmage.
Drake London produced 919 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games during 2025. Kyle Pitts recorded 88 catches for 928 yards and five scores across 17 appearances, giving Atlanta two returning targets.
Kevin Stefanski enters first Atlanta season
Kevin Stefanski enters his first year as head coach after replacing Raheem Morris. The Falcons finished 8-9 in 2025, placed third in the NFC South, and missed the postseason for an eighth consecutive year.
Atlanta also changed leadership after the 2025 season. Ian Cunningham became general manager, while Matt Ryan took the president of football role, creating a new organizational structure around Stefanski and the roster.
Fun fact: Tua Tagovailoa is naturally right-handed, but his father taught him to throw left-handed at about age 5 because he wanted another lefty in the family.
Pittsburgh Steelers lead Falcons series
Pittsburgh enters the opener with the historical series advantage over Atlanta. The Steelers stand 16-2-1 through 19 meetings, giving the Falcons only two victories in the matchup before the 2026 season.
The teams last met in Atlanta during the 2024 season, when Pittsburgh won 18-10. Their next matchup is scheduled for Acrisure Stadium, with the Steelers hosting the Falcons during the opening week of 2026.
Pittsburgh Steelers recorded 48 sacks
Pittsburgh’s defense recorded 48 sacks during the 2025 regular season, while its offense allowed 31. Alex Highsmith led the team with 9.5, followed by Nick Herbig at 7.5 and T.J. Watt at seven.
Watt enters 2026 with 115 career sacks across 135 regular-season games. His 2025 line included 55 tackles, seven sacks, two interceptions, eight passes defensed, and three forced fumbles across 14 appearances.
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Atlanta Falcons name sixth Week 1 starter
Tagovailoa is set to become Atlanta’s sixth Week 1 starting quarterback in six consecutive seasons. The sequence spans 2021 through 2026, with the Falcons naming a new starting quarterback for each opener.
Atlanta’s previous five Week 1 starters were Matt Ryan in 2021, Marcus Mariota in 2022, Desmond Ridder in 2023, Kirk Cousins in 2024, and Michael Penix Jr. in 2025 before Tagovailoa’s selection.
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Would you start Tua Tagovailoa in Week 1 or wait for Michael Penix Jr. to reach full readiness? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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