Story perspectives

Falcons Name Tua Tagovailoa Week 1 Starter

9/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Atlanta Falcons named Tua Tagovailoa their Week 1 starting quarterback.
Tagovailoa signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract after the Miami Dolphins released him.
Coach Kevin Stefanski announced Cooper Rush will back up Tagovailoa for the opener.
The Falcons open the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Sept. 13.
Miami incurs a $99.2 million dead-cap charge after releasing Tagovailoa from his four-year deal.

History

Historical Context

When the NFL instituted its first salary-cap in 1994, the league limited team payrolls to $34 million, forcing high-priced veterans to be cut. That year, the Dallas Cowboys released quarterback Troy Aikman, saving $12 million in cap space and prompting a league-wide reassessment of long-term contracts. Similarly, the 2024 Atlanta Falcons signed former Miami Dolphin Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year, $1.3 million deal after Miami absorbed a $99.2 million dead-cap charge, echoing the 1994 cap-driven roster reshuffles. The parallel underscores how salary-cap constraints continue to shape quarterback markets, compelling teams like the Falcons and Steelers to prioritize short-term flexibility over multi-year guarantees.

1 of 2

Story summary

The Atlanta Falcons named Tua Tagovailoa their Week 1 starting quarterback.
Tagovailoa signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract after the Miami Dolphins released him.
Coach Kevin Stefanski announced Cooper Rush will back up Tagovailoa for the opener.
The Falcons open the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Sept. 13.
Miami incurs a $99.2 million dead-cap charge after releasing Tagovailoa from his four-year deal.

1 / 2