Mike Tomlin Clearly Doesn’t Think Much of Tua Tagovailoa As A Quarterback

September 10, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Tua Tagovailoa is set to start for the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which, ironically, was the last team he faced when he was still with the Miami Dolphins. Tagovailoa ended up losing that matchup to Mike Tomlin’s Steelers, and he actually got benched for Quinn Ewers once the game was over. Ewers is now in Jacksonville, and Tomlin is now working for NBC Sports.

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Mike Tomlin Takes Jab at Tua Tagovailoa After 2025 Benching

Dec 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) leaves the field following a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Now that Tomlin gets paid to talk about his experiences as an NFL head coach, he’s able to offer extensive insight into featured matchups coming up on the schedule. On Wednesday night, that meant commenting on Tagovailoa, who Tomlin’s former team beat 28-15.

Perhaps more notable was the fact that Tagovailoa completed 22-of-28 passes for 253 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception while taking four sacks. He was benched after that performance.

Now, as the Falcons prepare to face Tomlin’s old team, the former Steelers coach wasn’t afraid to take sides. While doing so, he couldn’t help but point out that Tagovailoa’s performance against the Steelers got him benched last time.

“It’s less about Aaron (Rodgers) for me, and it’s more about the quarterback on the other side. His last visit to Pittsburgh didn’t go well. I was in the stadium that day. They lost. He got benched.”

He did indeed get benched. Now, as reports out of Falcons camp emerge, Tagovailoa may have tweaked the back injury he dealt with during Atlanta’s training camp.

He apparently reached for his back, then sat down on the field. From what reporters could tell, he didn’t attempt another pass after the apparent back injury. However, the entire Falcons practice wasn’t open to the media, so it’s possible he returned later on.

Cooper Rush is the backup… https://t.co/NZsueqLOWI
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 10, 2026

Still, if Tagovailoa did re-injure his back, it could pave the way for backup Cooper Rush to get the start against the Steelers on Sunday after Michael Penix Jr. admitted earlier in the week that he doesn’t feel ready to start quite yet. Penix is still working his way back from last season’s ACL tear and is close to 100%. Now, Tagovailoa may be less than 100% too, whether he’s still in line to start Sunday remains to be seen.