Atlanta Falcons normal supervisor Ian Cunningham stated definitively Friday that the workforce is bringing in Tua Tagovailoa to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the beginning quarterback job.
The Falcons signed Tagovailoa to a one-year, $1.3 million contract this week following his launch from the Miami Dolphins. Cunningham stated Tagovailoa is within the Falcons’ constructing Friday in Flowery Department, Georgia, taking his bodily.
“For Tua coming in right here, he is aware of he is coming in to compete,” Cunningham stated throughout a digital information convention. “Similar to Michael is aware of that he is coming in to compete and all people, fairly frankly — not simply these two on the quarterback place — however all people’s coming in to compete.”
Penix remains to be recovering from left ACL surgical procedure in November after tearing the ligament in Week 11. He has stated in interviews that he shall be prepared for Week 1, although it stays unclear. Sometimes, the harm has a restoration time between 9 and 12 months.
The earlier Falcons’ regime was adamant that Penix could be the starter as quickly as he was wholesome. The brand new group has not made that very same dedication.
The Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris and normal supervisor Terry Fontenot after the 2025 season, a second straight 8-9 marketing campaign. Atlanta has employed former Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski as its new head coach and Cunningham, previously the assistant normal supervisor of the Chicago Bears, as GM.
The Falcons additionally added a brand new place: president of soccer, which has been stuffed by former franchise quarterback Matt Ryan. Cunningham famous Friday that Stefanski spoke with Penix, and Cunningham himself spoke with Penix’s agent earlier than the signing of Tagovailoa.
“You do not wish to blindside any person, and that is simply how we function,” Cunningham stated. “We wish to have open conversations and communication, and I really feel like we did that with reference to Michael and Tua.”
Then-Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins was shocked and confused when the Falcons drafted Penix in 2024 at No. 8 simply weeks after signing Cousins to a $100 million assured contract. Cousins misplaced the beginning job to Penix late within the 2024 season, then stuffed in for Penix after the torn ACL final season. The Falcons launched Cousins on Wednesday.
Reducing Tagovailoa, 28, will price the Dolphins a $67.4 million lifeless cap hit, although he represents a low-cost, high-upside signing for the Falcons. Tagovailoa has a regarding historical past of concussions and threw 15 interceptions final season, shedding his beginning job. However he made the Professional Bowl in 2023 and was the NFL’s completion share chief in 2024.
Tagovailoa, a left-handed quarterback like Penix, has accomplished 68% of his passes for 18,166 yards with 120 landing passes and 59 interceptions in his six-year profession. Penix, 25, has made simply 12 profession begins. He has accomplished 59.6% of his passes for two,757 yards with 12 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.
