Tua Tagovailoa seeking to return to the ‘flow state’ with the Atlanta Falcons

For the first time since his breakthrough 2018 campaign at Alabama—where he famously edged out Jalen Hurts for the starting job—Tua Tagovailoa finds himself in a high-stakes quarterback competition. After being released by the Miami Dolphins in March, the former top-five pick has set his sights on a fresh start in Atlanta.

A New Chapter in Atlanta

Tagovailoa has joined the Falcons to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the QB1 spot. The transition represents a different phase for the veteran signal-caller. "I’m married now. I have kids," Tagovailoa noted on Wednesday. "You know, just in a different stage of my life, so I guess at this point, you kind of are who you are."

His tenure in Miami saw a rollercoaster of performance. After leading the NFL in passing yards in 2023 and boasting the league's highest completion percentage in 2024, the 2025 season proved difficult. His completion rate dropped to 67.7 percent, and the Dolphins managed only a 6-8 record in his starts before he was eventually benched for the final three games of the season.

Chasing the Flow State

Tagovailoa admits that finding his rhythm has been a primary focus as he navigates the Falcons' playbook. He described his goal as returning to a "flow state," a level of play he felt was more consistent during his 2023 and 2024 campaigns.

"I think the first thing is being able to get the foundation down with the players, with getting to know everyone in that sense," Tagovailoa said. "And then outside of that, it’s being able to hone in on the playbook, right? Being able to know why we’re running things."

The Path Ahead

The Falcons are currently working through the final phase of their offseason program, which includes seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 non-contact drills. While Penix works toward full participation, the depth chart also features veteran Trevor Siemian and rookie Jack Strand.

Despite the competitive nature of the room, Tagovailoa has embraced the camaraderie with his teammates and coaches. Ultimately, he says his priority remains clear: "The team winning the Super Bowl. I think that’d be amazing. Whether I’m the guy or whether I’m not the guy, I think that’d be unbelievable. And any way I can help make that happen, I’m excited to be here for that."

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