Alabama Legend Tua Tagovailoa Already Under Fire Before NFL Season

There was a time when former Alabama Crimson Tide star Tua Tagovailoa was viewed as one of the top up-and-coming quarterbacks in the NFL.

Just three years ago, Tagovailoa led the league 4,624 passing yards, making the Pro Bowl during his third NFL season with the Miami Dolphins.

But due to persistent concussions and a decline in performance, Tagovailoa has fallen off considerably since then.

After landing a massive four-year, $212 million contract extension with the Dolphins in July 2024, Tagovailoa put together two middling seasons before being released by Miami this past March.

The former No. 5 overall pick went on to sign with the Atlanta Falcons, who also have Michael Penix Jr. competing with Tagovailoa for the starting job.

Tagovailoa is viewed as the favorite, but it's very clear that the University of Alabama product has a short leash.

In fact, some even feel that Penix — who struggled mightily in 2025 — should be under center for the Falcons in Week 1. Meanwhile, others are already plotting who Atlanta's next quarterback could be in 2027.

It's sad that it has come to this for Tagovailoa, who led the Crimson Tide to a National Championship Game victory over Georgia in January 2018 after replacing Jalen Hurts in the second half.

Tagovailoa then racked up 43 touchdown passes for Alabama the following year, finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting as a result.

The 28-year-old was frequently criticized for being too small for the position, but that certainly didn't seem to bother him in the rugged SEC.

However, his lack of size and lack of durability certainly became an issue on the NFL level, and while he did lead the NFL with a 105.5 passer rating in 2022, he played in just 13 games that season, and he has played just one full season since entering the league in 2020.

Now, Tagovailoa is fighting for his professional career, and it's blatantly obvious that he doesn't have many believers.

Tagovailoa endured fierce criticism during his time in Miami, not only for his difficulty staying on the field, but also because of his tendency to struggle in cooler weather.

Luckily, he will be playing in a dome in Atlanta, and the NFC South is a warm-weather division — unlike the AFC East. That should play in his favor. So perhaps the Falcons are a perfect fit for Tua.

At the same time, though, it's fair to question whether or not Tagovailoa actually possesses the necessary skills to be a legitimate starting quarterback in the NFL. Especially at this stage of his career.