Tua Tagovailoa's Real Name: Tuanigamanuolepola Tagovailoa

Quick answer: He is known as Tua Tagovailoa, and "Tua" is short for Tuanigamanuolepola. The Sporting News gives his name as Tuanigamanuolepola "Tua" Tagovailoa and says he is named after his father's brother. Sportscasting also says Tua is short for Tuanigamanuolepola. He is from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and signed with the Atlanta Falcons in March 2026 after six seasons with the Miami Dolphins.

Real name and early life

The Sporting News, in a profile by Zac Al-Khateeb, writes "Tuanigamanuolepola 'Tua' Tagovailoa" and says the name honors his father Galu's brother, who shares it. Sportscasting, in a piece by Jake Elman, says the quarterback's first name "is short for Tuanigamanuolepola." Citing a 2018 CBS 42 interview with his childhood pastor, the Rev. Manino Afuola, it says "tu" means "stand" and "aniga" means "to be echoed."

The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame says he was born in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, to Galu and Diane Tagovailoa and is of Samoan descent, and Alabama's roster lists Ewa Beach as his hometown. The Sporting News says he is the eldest of four children, that his brother Taulia also played at Alabama, and that his father taught him to throw left-handed even though he is naturally right-handed.

Alabama says he threw for 8,158 yards at Saint Louis School in Honolulu, the most in Hawaii high school history, helped win the 2016 state title, and was the 2016 Gatorade State Player of the Year.

Career highlights

Alabama says he arrived in January 2017 and, as a freshman, was named offensive MVP of the College Football Playoff national championship game. As a sophomore in 2018, it says, he won the Walter Camp Player of the Year and Maxwell awards and set school single-season records with 43 touchdown passes and 3,966 passing yards. The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame says he was Heisman Trophy runner-up that year. Alabama says his 2019 season ended with an injury at Mississippi State.

The Falcons say Miami selected him fifth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Dolphins say he led the NFL in passer rating in 2022, passing yards (4,624) in 2023, and completion percentage (72.9) in 2024, made the Pro Bowl after the 2023 season, and was a four-time team captain. AP says he signed a four-year, $212 million extension in 2024 and suffered his fourth documented concussion early that season.

The Dolphins announced his release in March 2026, citing 120 touchdown passes in six seasons. AP reported that he agreed to a one-year deal with Atlanta, and the Falcons announced the signing on March 13, 2026.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Tua Tagovailoa or Tuanigamanuolepola Tagovailoa are looking for the same quarterback. Taulia Tagovailoa is his younger brother.