Is Tua Tagovailoa left-handed?
Is Tua Tagovailoa left-handed? Yes, Tua Tagovailoa is left-handed. The Miami Dolphins quarterback throws every NFL pass with his left hand, making him the most prominent left-handed starter in the league and the first regular left-handed NFL starter since Michael Vick's final years.
Tua Tagovailoa throws left-handed
Tua's left-handedness is one of the most visible facts about him. He releases with his left hand from a high three-quarter slot, and the spiral rotates in the opposite direction of every right-handed quarterback's pass. Defenders have to adjust how they read his throwing motion, and pass-rushers approach from the opposite side of the offensive tackle than they would for a right-handed QB.
The most famous moment of his career — the second-and-26 walk-off touchdown pass to win the 2017 CFP National Championship for Alabama — was a left-handed throw to DeVonta Smith. Coming off the bench at halftime as a true freshman, Tua replaced Jalen Hurts and delivered one of college football's all-time iconic plays.
How left-handedness affects an NFL offense
A left-handed quarterback changes the geometry of an offense:
- Pass protection flips. The left tackle is no longer the QB's blind side — the right tackle is. Teams with left-handed QBs sometimes invest more in their right-tackle position.
- Receiver routes mirror. Out routes, slants, and back-shoulder fades arrive on different shoulders, requiring receivers to retrain their hand placement and footwork.
- Footballs spin in reverse. Some receivers report that lefty spirals feel different on the catch, particularly on deep throws.
- Pass-rush angles invert. Edge rushers known for spin moves and bull rushes from the right side now have to attack from the left side to reach the QB's blind side.
For Dolphins offensive coordinators, these adjustments are baked into the playbook from the start. For opposing defenses, facing a left-handed QB twice a year (in division games against Miami) is a real preparation task.
Other left-handed NFL quarterbacks
Left-handed quarterbacks have always been rare in the NFL — fewer than 30 in league history have been drafted as a lefty. The most decorated:
- Steve Young — Hall of Fame, three Super Bowl rings (one as starter), 1994 MVP
- Ken Stabler — Hall of Fame, Super Bowl XI champion, 1974 MVP
- Michael Vick — four-time Pro Bowler, NFL's most-rushed-by quarterback for many years
- Boomer Esiason — 1988 MVP, Super Bowl XXIII appearance
- Mark Brunell — three-time Pro Bowler with the Jaguars
- Tim Tebow — 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, brief NFL career with the Broncos
The full breakdown is in our deep dive on the best left-handed quarterbacks of all time. For non-quarterback NFL lefties, the list runs through specialists, kickers, and a small number of skill players. Notably, fellow Heisman winner Jayden Daniels is right-handed, despite getting frequently asked about it.
Tua's left-handedness, his injury history, and the throwing mechanics question
Tua's career has been shadowed by serious injuries — a hip dislocation at Alabama in 2019 and multiple concussions during his NFL career. His left-handedness has occasionally been brought up in discussions of his throwing mechanics, particularly around release point and shoulder torque, but no medical or coaching staff has linked his handedness to his injury history. Lefty quarterbacks are subject to the same physical risks as righties.
The bottom line
Tua Tagovailoa is left-handed and throws left-handed at the highest level of professional football. He's the only current NFL starter doing so, which makes every Dolphins game a quietly distinctive viewing experience for handedness-aware fans. He sits in the lineage that includes Steve Young, Ken Stabler, and Michael Vick — a small fraternity of southpaws who have run NFL offenses against right-handed defaults.
Frequently asked questions
Which hand does Tua Tagovailoa throw with?
Tua Tagovailoa throws with his left hand. Every pass of his college and NFL career has been left-handed.
Is Tua the only left-handed quarterback in the NFL?
Currently, yes. Tua is the only regular left-handed starter in the NFL. There are occasional left-handed backup or third-string quarterbacks who don't see the field, but no other team has had a regular lefty starter since Michael Vick's final years.
Was Tua's 2017 national championship pass a left-handed throw?
Yes. The famous second-and-26 walk-off touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith that won Alabama the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship was thrown left-handed. Tua replaced Jalen Hurts at halftime as a true freshman and delivered one of the most iconic moments in college football history.
How rare are left-handed NFL quarterbacks?
Very rare. Approximately 10% of the general population is left-handed, but only about 1–2% of NFL quarterbacks throughout history have been left-handed. Most decades pass with only one or two left-handed starters in the entire league.
Does being left-handed give Tua an advantage?
It can. Defenses face right-handed QBs week after week, so an occasional lefty forces preparation adjustments and unfamiliar geometry. The advantage is small but real, and it's similar to the rarity advantage seen in left-handed boxing and left-handed tennis.
