Falcons To Have QB Competition Between Tagovailoa And Penix Jr.

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by Sam LanierMarch 14, 2026, 1:31 am >

The Atlanta Falcons are set to have a quarterback competition heading into next season after signing free agent quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa will be competing with third-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who is coming off a torn ACL that he suffered in November of 2025.

Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said definitively that Penix and Tagovailoa will be battling to be the team’s starting quarterback during training camp. The former Miami Dolphins quarterback signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Falcons following his release.

“For Tua coming in here, he knows he’s coming in to compete,” the Falcons GM said during a press conference. “Just like Michael knows that he’s coming in to compete and everybody, quite frankly – not just those two at the quarterback position – but everybody’s coming in to compete.”

With Penix recovering from that ACL injury, it makes sense that the Falcons would want to bring in another veteran quarterback, as Penix has dealt with knee problems during his time at Indiana. It is also unclear when he will be able to return to action, as the timetable is nine to 12 months.

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Tagovailoa is joining a new regime in Atlanta with Cunningham and head coach Kevin Stefanski. The Falcons fired former head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot following a disappointing 2025 season.

Cunningham is coming from the Chicago Bears, where he served as an assistant general manager. Stefanski was previously the head coach for the Cleveland Browns before they decided to part ways.

The Falcons also added a new position to their front office that will be filled by franchise legend Matt Ryan. Ryan will take on a new role as the president of football.

Penix was notified that the team was bringing in Tagovailoa, operating differently than when they drafted Penix, and did not tell newly signed free-agent Kirk Cousins.

“You don’t want to blindside somebody, and that’s just how we operate,” Cunningham said. “We want to have open conversations and communication, and I feel like we did that in regards to Michael and Tua.”

The Falcons have finished 8-9 in consecutive seasons and will hope to improve on that mark and win the NFC South.