Tua Tagovailoa's Falcons era finally kicked off on the field Friday night against the Broncos, and Barstool's football accounts were locked in from the opening whistle just to see him in a different jersey after six years in Miami.
Seeing Tua in a Falcons jersey is actually crazy😂
The Dolphins cut Tua loose in March after a 15-interception 2025 season that ended with him benched for the final 3 games, a move that reportedly leaves Miami on the hook for an NFL-record $99.2 million in dead cap. Atlanta scooped him up on a one-year, league-minimum $1.215 million deal, and GM Ian Cunningham was blunt about the terms: Tua is here to compete with 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr., not just hold the clipboard.
The debut itself was rough. Head coach Kevin Stefanski kept him on a short leash, limiting him to 2 series and roughly 10 plays, and Tua went 3-for-5 for 22 yards, connecting with tight end Kyle Pitts on 4 of those throws, before handing off to backup Cooper Rush. Both of his drives ended in punts, and a second-play fumble knocked the offense out of rhythm early — Denver jumped out to a 17-0 halftime lead on the way to a 27-7 win.
Ain’t no way 💀 https://t.co/XvZkbCxdfK
Fans watching from Miami couldn't help but pile on, with one clip of Tua's highlights during the broadcast drawing a mix of sympathy and schadenfreude.
They just showed Tua’s highlights from the game. Part of me feels bad. He looks petrified out there. Sad to see. Not our problem anymore tho.
Then Broncos coach Sean Payton, never one to leave a soundbite on the table, took a shot at the home crowd during his halftime sideline interview, noting the sparse turnout at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“A lot of people dressed up as empty seats today” It might be preseason but Sean Payton’s trash talk is in mid-season form https://t.co/A9ySF45XcD
The bigger story lurking behind the box score is the QB competition Cunningham promised. Penix, who tore his left ACL in Week 11 last season, says he believes he'll be ready for Week 1, and the Falcons have been careful to frame this as an open battle rather than a formality. Tua was candid after the game too, admitting the offense's showing was 'not up to standard' and that he wants to be putting points on the board, not stacking three-and-outs.
One Possession into the pre season Penix saw enough https://t.co/1ruEbuSrXL
None of it's decided in preseason game 1, but the internet doesn't wait for training camp to render a verdict — Tua was already getting chopped up in TikTok edit form within 24 hours of the final whistle. Atlanta's regular-season opener is September 13 against the Steelers, and whether that start belongs to Tua or Penix is suddenly the most interesting subplot on the Falcons' schedule.
Tua is already getting Washed Tik Tok edits after 1 preseason game https://t.co/g8RulJGYfc