Tagovailoa Returns to Miami, Leads Falcons Past Dolphins in Preseason Finale

Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa steered the Atlanta Falcons to a 17-12 preseason victory Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium, marking his first appearance as an opposing player at the venue where he spent his first six NFL seasons. The win came despite audible boos from the home crowd, a reception Tagovailoa acknowledged but said did not diminish his affection for the organization and city.

Tagovailoa orchestrated an impressive opening drive for Atlanta, culminating in a 3-yard touchdown run by Bijan Robinson that gave the Falcons an early 7-0 advantage. Miami responded with a field goal after rookie wide receiver Chris Bell, selected in the third round out of Louisville, hauled in an 18-yard reception, but the Dolphins managed only four field goals throughout the contest and generated minimal offensive momentum.

The preseason finale left Miami winless at 0-3 as the organization pivots toward finalizing its 53-man roster. Tagovailoa, despite a costly second-quarter fumble on a snap that Miami recovered, reflected positively on his tenure with the Dolphins, stating that his six years there ranked among the most meaningful of his life.

Miami head coach Jeff Hafley acknowledged the difficult roster decisions ahead, praising the team’s commitment while recognizing that substantial cuts would be necessary in the coming days to reach the required roster size for the regular season.