Michael Penix Jr. put on notice as Kevin Stefanski drops major Tua Tagovailoa hint for 2026

Mar 30, 2026 - 14:00

Michael Penix Jr. spent the first two-seasons of his NFL career learning from Kirk Cousins.

But in 2026, things will be different after the Atlanta Falcons released Cousins, and brought in Tua Tagovailoa to compete for the starting role.

Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins reacts prior to an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Pennsylvania on December 15, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. — Tua was brought in by the Atlanta Falcons after they released Kirk Cousins at the beginning of the offseason

The Miami Dolphins decided that the Tua era is over, cutting him early this offseason and taking one of the biggest cap hits in NFL history.

The Falcons signed him to a veteran’s minimum, one-year deal. Miami will still be paying Tua $54 million in the guaranteed money he was owed, while Atlanta will chip in with just $1.3 million.

When he was initially signed, the consensus in Atlanta was that he would be battling with Penix Jr. for the QB.1 role.

But new head coach Kevin Stefanski’s latest comments might just have revealed Tua is ahead of Penix on the depth chart.

“There’s something to be said when you’re fired,” Stefanski said via NFL.com.

“I can attest to that. You want to prove people wrong. You have a chip on your shoulder.

“I think where I am coming into this, where Tua’s coming into this is, listen, this is not exactly how you thought it would go, but gets what that’s the reality, and how are we gonna respond.

“You look back on his career, you look back at his college career, he has responded.”

Both Stefanski and Tua will begin 2026 in new chapters of their respective careers, and that may be the reason he gets the nod over Penix come the end of August.

Despite twice being an NFL Coach of the Year in six seasons in his time with the Cleveland Browns, Stefanski was let go at the end of 2025.

Kevin Stefanski of the Atlanta Falcons speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 24, 2026 — Stefanski may have hinted he wants to give Tua the opportunity, given his own experiences being cut by a team

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa reacts at the line of scrimmage against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of the game at Huntington Bank Field on October 19, 2025 — Tua is still set to be paid $54 million by the Dolphins after being cut

He would finish his tenure 45-56, but also delivered two of the Browns’ three playoff campaigns this century.

Tua also had his fair share of ups and downs with the Dolphins, struggling to find his footing before flourishing under Mike McDaniel.

Miami benched Tagovailoa for the final three games of last season, and were swift in finding his replacement this offseason, bringing in Malik Willis on a three-year deal.

Penix is also a first-rounder who is looking to re-establish himself in the Falcons future, and he will have a clean slate under the new regime.

Penix threw nine touchdowns and three picks before a partially torn ACL ended his season early, and he will have to prove himself upon his return.

The upcoming competition will be a storyline to watch throughout the remainder of the offseason, much like the Browns’ was between Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.

Michael Penix Jr. of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates after defeating the Washington Commanders at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 28, 2025 — Despite Stefanski’s hint, Penix will also want to prove he should be the starter in Atlanta

Penix will be determined to prove he should still be the QB of the future in Atlanta, while Tagovailoa will attempt to get his own career back on track.

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