Can Falcons’ Tua Tagovailoa survive ‘career crossroads’ in 2026? originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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New Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovaila got a career lifeline this offseason as he swapped Miami for the NFC.
Now, Tua, who is in direct competition with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting role under Kevin Stefanski, is facing a tough road over the next couple of months.
If Tua can’t beat out Penix, then what that will say about his long-term future as a starter isn’t great.
But can Tua not only beat out Penix but then thrive as a starter with the Falcons?
NFL.com’s Eric Edholm thinks he can.
“There’s no doubt Tagovailoa is at a career crossroads, and his history could work against him, but worse quarterbacks have overcome more to find second lives in the NFL,” Edholm wrote. “He still has a great shot to cash in with a strong 2026 campaign.”
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Tua under huge 2026 pressure
Well, first, he’s got to beat out the younger Penix. That is pressure in itself, because if Tua can’t, then he’s likely going to be a backup for the season, possibly longer.
But say he does win the job for Stefanski.
Now he has to go and play at a high level on the field, because the last vision of him in the NFL was being benched last season in Miami in favor of Quinn Ewers. That isn’t great.
So, there are a couple of reasons why Tua faces a lot of pressure in 2026, and time will tell if he can overcome it.
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