Tua Tagovailoa gives candid assessment of ‘unique’ Dolphins demise amid bold Falcons promise

Tua Tagovailoa’s gave a very honest assessment of his final season with the Miami Dolphins.

During his introductory press conference with the Atlanta Falcons, the former first-round NFL Draft pick acknowledged that his final season in South Beach was dismal.

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“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 … three years since the new contract,” Tagovailoa said to the media on Tuesday.

“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.”

Last season, his sixth in the NFL, Tagovailoa threw for just 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns to 15 interceptions – the second-most in the league – before being benched in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers.

The former Alabama signal caller looked far removed from the Pro Bowler who threw for over 4,600 yards and 29 touchdowns just two seasons prior in 2023.

Having penned a four-year, $212.4 million extension in July 2024, the Dolphins ultimately decided to absorb an NFL-record $99.2 million in dead cap hit to part ways with Tagovailoa ahead of the 2026 season.

After doing so, Miami were able to land their No. 1 target and highest-rated free agent quarterback Malik Willis who will assume the starting role under center going forward.

Tagovailoa wasn’t on the market long, either, reaching an agreement to join the Falcons on a one-year, $1.3 million veteran’s minimum deal, though he will still make $54 million in 2026.

Speaking on his experience in Miami last season, Tagovailoa remained coy, stating only that it was “unique in a lot of ways.”

Tagovailoa excited for opportunity to work with Penix Jr.

Now in a position to be able to compete with 25-year-old Michael Penix Jr. – who is coming off an ACL injury – to become the Falcons’ starting quarterback, Tagovailoa revealed he is relishing the opportunity of being in a new environment in Atlanta.

“You’re either a competitor or you’re not, you just don’t go from being a competitor to ‘let me just relax a little bit,'” Tagovailoa added.

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“I just don’t think that’s how it works. … And so, I embrace the competition. I’m excited to work alongside with Mike and I’m excited to work with the team, with the guys. I think it’s going to be fun this year.”

Other the last few years of his pro football career, Tagovailoa has drawn criticism for putting himself – and his body – in positions where he is more susceptible to drawing hard contact.

This has led to him dealing with multiple concussions, and therefore missing multiple games.

However, the 28-year-old admitted that he had cleared all the necessary health protocols that his new team gave him.

“The game of football will always entail physicality,” he said. “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.

“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’ve thought.”

Having cut veteran Kirk Cousins at the start of the new league year, the Falcons also bolstered their quarterback room on Tuesday when they signed free agent Trevor Siemian.

The 34-year-old last made an appearance in an NFL game back in 2023 with the New York Jets.

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