Tua Tagovailoa

Tagovailoa was born in ʻEwa Beach, Hawaii, to Galu and Diane Tagovailoa as the oldest of four children in a Samoan family. He was heavily influenced by his grandfather, Seu Tagovailoa, a revered community figure known as "Chief Tagovailoa." Although Tagovailoa is naturally right-handed, his father trained him to throw footballs with his left hand during childhood.

Tagovailoa is an evangelical Christian. He married Annah Gore in 2022, and the couple has two children, a son and a daughter. Athletic talent runs throughout his family; his younger brother Taulia Tagovailoa played quarterback at Alabama and Maryland before playing professionally, while his cousins Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa and Adam Amosa-Tagovailoa played college and professional football. In response to head injuries suffered during his playing career, Tagovailoa incorporated jiu-jitsu into his training regimen in 2023 to learn safer falling techniques.

In February 2021, he established the Tua Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to youth health, wellness, and charitable initiatives across Hawaii, Alabama, and South Florida. His philanthropic efforts include creating a $300,000 scholarship endowment for his high school alma mater, Saint Louis School, and providing relief funding for charitable organizations such as the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch.

Tagovailoa attended Saint Louis School in Honolulu, where he was mentored by fellow alumnus and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. Over three varsity seasons, Tagovailoa set a Hawaii high school record by passing for 8,158 yards along with 84 passing touchdowns and 27 rushing touchdowns.

In 2016, Tagovailoa was named the MVP of the Elite 11 quarterback competition and played in the All-American Bowl. Rated as the top high school football prospect in Hawaii and a consensus top-ranked dual-threat quarterback nationally, he chose to enroll at the University of Alabama in January 2017.

As a true freshman in 2017, Tagovailoa served as the primary backup to Jalen Hurts. In the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship against Georgia, Tagovailoa entered the game at halftime with Alabama trailing. He led a comeback victory that culminated in a game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith in overtime, securing Alabama's 17th national title and earning Offensive MVP honors.

Tagovailoa took over as the full-time starter in 2018, putting together one of the most prolific passing seasons in college football history. He threw for 3,966 yards and an Alabama single-season record 43 touchdowns, winning both the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award while finishing as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. He set an NCAA FBS single-season passer rating record of 199.4 and guided Alabama back to the national title game.

His 2019 junior season was shortened when he suffered a dislocated hip and posterior wall fracture against Mississippi State. Despite the injury, he finished his Alabama career holding program records for passing touchdowns (87) and total touchdowns (96). Tagovailoa declared for the NFL draft in January 2020 and graduated from Alabama with a bachelor's degree in communication studies in August 2020.

The Miami Dolphins selected Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, making him the first left-handed quarterback drafted in the first round since 2010. He made his debut during his rookie campaign in relief of Ryan Fitzpatrick before taking over starting duties in Week 8. By 2021, he became the full-time starter, guiding Miami through a seven-game winning streak and sweeping the New England Patriots.

Under head coach Mike McDaniel in 2022, Tagovailoa emerged as one of the league's most efficient passers, leading the NFL with a 105.5 passer rating. His season included a Week 2 performance against the Baltimore Ravens in which he threw for 469 yards and six touchdowns, matching the Dolphins single-game franchise record. In 2023, he started all 17 regular-season games, leading the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and earning selection as the AFC starting quarterback in the Pro Bowl.

During his time in Miami, Tagovailoa navigated several high-profile concussions that prompted league-wide discussions and revisions to NFL concussion protocols. After leading the NFL in completion percentage during the 2024 season, Tagovailoa concluded his six-season tenure in Miami following the 2025 campaign and subsequently joined the Atlanta Falcons in March 2026.