Tua Tagovailoa Contract, Release, and Falcons Move

Tua Tagovailoa went from a $212 million contract extension to a one-year minimum deal in twelve months. His journey from Miami Dolphins franchise quarterback to Atlanta Falcons backup competition is a story of talent, injuries, and financial reckoning.

Current Team: Atlanta Falcons (2025) ·
Age: 28 (born March 2, 1998) ·
Height / Weight: 6’1″, 225 lbs ·
College: Alabama ·
2024 Contract Guarantee: Over $100 million from Dolphins (figure from reports)

Seven key facts about Tua Tagovailoa, from his early career to his current situation:

What has happened to Tua Tagovailoa?

Timeline of Tua Tagovailoa’s 2025 offseason

• In March 2025, the Miami Dolphins released Tua Tagovailoa with a post-June 1 designation, splitting his dead-cap charge over multiple seasons (ESPN (sports news)).
• Within days, the Atlanta Falcons signed him to a one-year minimum contract worth about $1.3 million (NFL.com (official league site)). Over the Cap listed the deal at $1.215 million (Over the Cap (salary cap tracker)).
• The Falcons plan to have Tagovailoa compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting quarterback job (ESPN).

Falcons signing details

Atlanta avoided substantial salary risk because almost all of Tagovailoa’s 2026 compensation will be paid by Miami (NFL.com). The one-year deal gives the Falcons a low-cost option to evaluate a former Pro Bowl quarterback without long-term commitment.

The implication: Atlanta secures a high-upside player for the cost of a backup, while Tagovailoa bets on himself to regain his starter status.

Why did the Dolphins cut Tua?

Concussion history and health concerns

• Tagovailoa’s Dolphins tenure was marked by recurring concussion concerns (Yahoo Sports (sports journalism)). He missed four games after suffering two documented concussions and another head hit that changed the NFL’s reporting process (ESPN).
• In 2024, he missed a career-high six games because of concussion and hip injury issues (ESPN).
• He was benched for the final three games of the 2025 season after throwing 15 interceptions (ESPN).

Financial implications for Miami

The Dolphins needed salary cap relief. By releasing Tua with a post-June 1 designation, Miami incurred a record dead-cap hit of roughly $67.4 million in the first year and about $99.2 million overall (ESPN). The BBC reported the release would cost the Dolphins a record £74 million (BBC Sport (international news)).

The pattern: Miami’s decision combines medical risk assessment with financial necessity — a quarterback they guaranteed $100 million two years ago became too expensive to keep given injury uncertainty.

How much do the Dolphins still owe Tua?

Guaranteed money and dead cap

Tagovailoa’s 2024 extension was a four-year, $212.4 million contract (BBC Sport). The Palm Beach Post reported the extension was signed in July 2024 and kept him under contract through the 2028 season (Palm Beach Post (regional newspaper)). The guaranteed amount at signing was approximately $100 million.

Offset language in the contract

Offset provisions may reduce the amount Miami owes if Tua signs elsewhere. Since he signed with the Falcons for a minimum salary, the Dolphins’ dead cap hit is partially offset by the new contract. However, the exact reduction depends on the specific offset language in the extension, which has not been publicly detailed.

The implication: Miami still bears the vast majority of the financial burden, while Tua’s new contract only marginally reduces their cap pain.

What did Tua get diagnosed with?

Concussion diagnosis and medical protocol

• Tua has been diagnosed with multiple concussions. He underwent evaluations per NFL concussion protocol each time (ESPN).
• No official CTE diagnosis exists, as CTE can only be diagnosed posthumously.
• His 2022 concussion led to changes in the NFL’s concussion protocol after a visible incident on national television.

Long-term health outlook

Medical experts widely agree that multiple concussions increase the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and other neurological conditions. Tua has not publicly disclosed any long-term diagnosis beyond the acute concussions. The long-term neurological impact remains unclear and is a subject of ongoing medical monitoring.

What this means: Tagovailoa’s career hinges not just on performance but on his ability to avoid further head trauma, a variable no contract can control.

“The Falcons avoided substantial salary risk because almost all of Tagovailoa’s 2026 compensation would be paid by Miami.”

— NFL.com (official league site)

Who is Tua’s new wife?

How Tua met Annah

Tua married Annah Tagovailoa in 2024. The couple met at the University of Alabama, where Annah was a student-athlete. They have two children together — a son and a daughter. Annah is a former college athlete, though her specific sport has not been widely reported.

Wedding and family

Their wedding was a private ceremony in 2024. Tua often credits his family for emotional support through his concussion struggles and career transitions. The family resides in Atlanta during the season.

The pattern: A stable personal life provides counterbalance to a volatile professional trajectory, a factor that matters for athletes managing health and career uncertainty.

Timeline of key events

• January 2018: Led Alabama to national championship, named Offensive MVP
• April 2020: Drafted 5th overall by Miami Dolphins
• 2022 season: Suffered first major concussion, sparked NFL protocol changes
• July 2023: Signed 4-year, $212.4M contract extension with $100M guaranteed
• 2024 season: Multiple concussions reported; missed games
• March 2025: Released by Miami Dolphins
• March 2025: Signed one-year minimum contract with Atlanta Falcons

“The Dolphins planned to release Tua Tagovailoa with a post-June 1 designation, splitting his dead-cap charge over multiple seasons.”

— ESPN (sports news)

“The Falcons were reported to sign Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year deal after his release from Miami.”

— ESPN

The pattern is clear: Tua Tagovailoa’s career has been a rollercoaster of elite highs and frightening lows. For the Falcons, the one-year minimum bet is almost risk-free. For Tua, the 2025 season is a chance to prove he can still play — and stay healthy. For the Dolphins, the record dead cap is a painful reminder of how quickly guaranteed money can become a liability. Tagovailoa enters a make-or-break season with everything to prove.

Frequently asked questions