Tua Tagovailoa has officially been named the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons against the Miami Dolphins in the final game of the 2026 NFL preseason. However, his recent performances have raised serious concerns.
Now, NFL insider Mike Florio has questioned where Tagovailoa’s career is heading after another shaky preseason appearance.
Mike Florio Raises Questions About Tua Tagovailoa’s Falcons Career
His first outing gave the Falcons little reason for optimism. Against the Denver Broncos, the former Alabama standout looked out of rhythm and failed to settle into the game. He finished just 3-of-5 passing for 22 yards, offering almost no impact on Atlanta’s offense.
In a recent segment of “Pro Football Talk,” Florio went a step further while discussing what could be happening inside Tagovailoa’s head. The veteran quarterback has already earned significant money, and Florio believes that could affect his desire to continue fighting through another difficult chapter.
“I think Tua has gotten to the point where he realizes that his career is on life support and he’s about to activate the DNR,” Florio said. “I just feel like that’s that’s where his career is going, that he’s made a (expletive) of money, he’s won, he can adjust his earring and show us his watch and his necklace any time he wants.”
Florio then explained that Tagovailoa could eventually decide that football is no longer worth the struggle. With $54 million coming his way this season, the quarterback could have financial security regardless of what happens next.
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“He can just say, ‘I don’t need this (expletive) anymore. I don’t need this. I don’t need to do this. I’m gonna make 54 million dollars this year. So what if they bench me? So what if they cut me? And if I’m not gonna be the starter, why do I even want to be here? Why do we want to play this year?'” Florio added.
“I could see all that, all that kind of coming together in his mind and getting him to say, ‘Hey, you know what? I tried it, but time to move on.’ He could choose to walk away. He can walk away before the game spits him out.”
Meanwhile, practice footage has added another layer to the concern surrounding Tagovailoa.
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Under heavy pressure, he attempted to escape the collapsing pocket and create something downfield. Instead, the play fell apart, offering another reminder of the issues that have followed him throughout this preseason.
Tagovailoa entered the NFL as a first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins and once appeared destined for a strong career. However, injuries repeatedly interrupted his development and changed his trajectory.
Miami ultimately moved on this offseason, giving Atlanta an opening to revive his career.
Last season, Tagovailoa played 14 games and struggled to produce the consistency Atlanta needs from its quarterback. He threw for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.
PFN’s QB Impact Metric gave him a 72.1 score, which placed him 28th among quarterbacks.
For what it’s worth, Tagovailoa still owns a 44-32 record as a starter across six seasons with the Miami Dolphins. However, his recent results tell a different story. He won only 12 of 25 starts over the past two seasons.
That decline makes Atlanta’s offseason decision even more interesting. The Falcons brought in Tagovailoa and created a direct competition with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job.
Both quarterbacks struggled during the 2025 season. Still, Penix finished two spots ahead of Tagovailoa in PFN’s QB Impact Rankings, giving him a slight edge entering the battle.
Meanwhile, Atlanta has not officially named its primary starter with just over two weeks remaining before the regular season begins. Tagovailoa’s preseason struggles have only added pressure to that decision.
