{
  "id": 6297903,
  "title": "Examining the last 5 Falcons quarterbacks to start Week 1",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/examining-the-last-5-falcons-quarterbacks-to-start-week-1",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-08T16:28:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/examining-last-5-falcons-quarterbacks-162800776.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Atlanta Falcons will enter the 2026 NFL season with a new starting quarterback for the sixth consecutive year. Tua Tagovailoa is set to lead the team in their Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a decision that appears to be made out of necessity following the exclusion of Michael Penix Jr. Relying on a fresh face each year is not a particularly effective approach to securing victories in the NFL, as evidenced by the Falcons' record of winning at least seven games in five successive seasons.\n\nWhen Matt Ryan was the starting quarterback in 2021, Atlanta concluded the NFL season with a 7-10 record. Despite the team's offensive line lacking its current form and Ryan suffering a sack tally of at least 40 times for the fourth year in a row, Ryan managed to lead a subpar squad to seven wins. The Falcons subsequently traded Ryan to the Colts following their 2021 campaign.\n\nMarcus Mariota, signed as a transitional starter for the Falcons after the trade of Matt Ryan, started 13 games during the 2022 season. He completed 2,219 passing yards, tossed 15 touchdowns and 9 interceptions, and achieved an 88.1 rating. Although Mariota's season may not have been as disastrous as some portrayed, his viral errors underscored the fact that he was not the long-term solution. Arthur Smith subsequently benching Mariota in favor of rookie Desmond Ridder, who completed 2,836 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 15 games during the 2023 campaign.\n\nDesmond Ridder, drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft ahead of Malik Willis, was designated as the starter for the 2023 season. However, he grappled with turnovers and the ability to read NFL defenses, leading to his eventual replacement by Taylor Heinicke on multiple occasions throughout the season. In response to poor performance, the Falcons traded Ridder and acquired two new quarterbacks.\n\nKirk Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons just prior to the team drafting Michael Penix Jr., started 14 games in 2024. Although Cousins had a stellar start, he struggled in the latter half of the season, compiling a 7-7 record. He threw 16 interceptions over 14 games, marking his worst four-game stretch in his career.\n\nMichael Penix Jr., who tore his ACL against the Panthers in Week 11, displayed considerable potential with a 9-3 record in his nine games. While he suffered from occasional operational penalties and inconsistency, Penix managed to keep the team in contention for several victories. However, the Falcons' kicking issues likely cost him at least two wins, and his ACL injury was a significant setback for the former No. 8 pick.\n\nTua Tagovailoa, who entered the fray after six seasons with the Miami Dolphins, was named the Week 1 starter in the 2026 season. Despite reports of a poor joint practice performance in Indianapolis, Tagovailoa has demonstrated a strong completion percentage and a tendency to minimize turnovers. However, he will need to perform well to prevent Michael Penix Jr. from making strides. The Falcons will face off against the Steelers at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday in Pittsburgh.",
  "summary": "Who were the last 5 Falcons quarterbacks to start Week 1?",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}