Tua Named Falcons QB1 Over Penix Jr. vs. Rodgers' Steelers, 6th New Week 1 Starter Since 2021

The Atlanta Falcons will have a new starter under center for a Week 1 matchup with Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers to begin the 2026 NFL season.

Atlanta named Tua Tagovailoa as its first-string quarterback over Michael Penix Jr. on Monday.

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Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and ESPN first reported the news. While not a total surprise, the revolving door under center continues for the organization.

Penix previously started nine games for the Falcons in 2025.

Tagovailoa signed a one-year contract with Atlanta in March after he was released by the Miami Dolphins, winning the Falcons' position battle while navigating through a back injury in training camp and overcoming early struggles in the preseason. He spent the first six years of his career as a member of the Dolphins.

Tagovailoa was selected by Miami with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

He owned a record of 32-19 as a starter through his first four seasons in Miami, which included a 2023 campaign in which he threw for a league-leading 4,624 yards and earned a Pro Bowl nod.

Tagovailoa was limited to just 11 starts during the next year, as he missed time after suffering a concussion .

He followed it up with a disappointing 2025 campaign, completing 67.7 percent of his passes for just 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns while getting picked off 15 times. Tagovailoa was benched for the Dolphins' final three games of the regular season.

The 28-year-old will look to bounce back with a change of scenery, while Penix is set to open the season as Atlanta's No. 2 quarterback.

Penix wasn't able to win the Falcons' starting job despite his prior experience in the role, as he's appeared in 14 games across his two years with the team.

It's worth noting that his 2025 season concluded earlier than expected after he suffered a torn ACL in Week 11 and he continued to recover from the injury in training camp. Penix wasn't fully cleared to practice until Aug. 22, eventually splitting first-team reps with Tagovailoa upon returning.

Atlanta is looking to end an eight-year playoff drought in 2026.

Tagovailoa and the Falcons are set to face the Steelers on Sept. 13, with kickoff at 1 p.m. ET.