Falcons name Tua Tagovailoa Week 1 starting QB vs. Steelers - ESPN

Tua Tagovailoa will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback to begin the season.

Beyond that, Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said he has «blinders» when it comes to any long-term decisions beyond Atlanta's opener Sunday at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

«I've got the blinders on, so I see Week 1 in front of me and after this one, then we'll start on the next one and those type of things,» Stefanski said. «So, I don't think it's fair to really go past this week on anything related to our football team.»

The Falcons announced their decision Monday morning, ending a monthslong competition between Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr.

Stefanski said Penix, who is recovering from a knee injury that ended his 2025 season, will be inactive in Week 1 while Cooper Rush will serve as Tagovailoa's backup against the Steelers.

«I think every decision I make for the football team, you're taking in all the information available to you,» Stefanski said. «Sometimes information changes and certainly with a decision like this, you want to make sure that you're taking all the information from the spring to the summer to how people are performing — those type of things. So felt really strongly about this group and feel good about where we're heading.»

Atlanta has had a different Week 1 starting quarterback in each of the past six seasons.

The Falcons signed Tagovailoa to a one-year, $1.3 million contract in the offseason. He was released in March by the Miami Dolphins, who took on a record $99.2 million in dead cap to part ways with the six-year veteran.

Penix sustained a torn ACL in November 2025 and underwent surgery. He was not cleared for 11-on-11 team periods until the final week of training camp and did not play in any preseason games.

Stefan