Kevin Stefanski believes Tua Tagovailoa has key ‘God-given ability’ despite rough 2025

Tua Falcons

Tua Tagovailoa has a fan in new Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Stefanski, during Atlanta's OTAs on Wednesday, praised the passing accuracy that Tagovailoa brings to Atlanta, describing it as an innate, God-given ability" for the quarterback.

I think it's [accuracy] the most important trait at the position," Stefanski told reporters on Wednesday. Some guys get better at it with tweaks to how they throw the ball, tweaks to their lower body, those types of things. ... All of our quarterbacks have this: to be able to let the ball go, and it's going to where you want it to go. Not to say that you're not going to miss throws in this profession.

Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa runs through drills during OTA's at IBM Performance Field on May 27, 2026 in Flowery Branch, Ga. Getty Images

You're going to miss throws, but all of our guys possess that innate quality of letting it go and knowing where they want it to go."

That's when he focused in on Tagovailoa.

I think Tua, just in his career, as you've seen, just has that innate, God-given ability," the Falcons coach said.

Tagovailoa is playing his first NFL season outside of Miami after he was released this offseason by the Dolphins - with a $99 million cap hit - and signed a one-year, $1.215 million contract with the Falcons.

The fifth overall pick in 2020 has had an up-and-down journey in the NFL, mixed with plenty of promise but plagued by injuries and inconsistency.

#Falcons HC Kevin Stefanski says accuracy is the most important trait for a QB and called Tua Tagovailoa's accuracy an innate, God-given ability." pic.twitter.com/Rp3zNJ7Bjy

- Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 27, 2026

The QB struggled in 2025 when he threw for only 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns with 15 interceptions in his final year in South Florida.

The poor season earned him a benching in the final three games.

On the other hand, Tagovailoa owns a 68.6 percent completion percentage since 2021, which puts him behind only Joe Burrow among all QBs who have played at least 60 games.

Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski speaks to the media during OTA's at IBM Performance Field on May 27, 2026 in Flowery Branch, Ga. Getty Images

And in 2023, Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing with 4,624 yards.

Tagovailoa will battle it out with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job in Atlanta.