Michael Tarrence Penix Jr. is an American professional football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL.
He had a challenging college career at Indiana, marred by injuries, before achieving success at Washington, where he led the nation in passing yards and won the Maxwell Award in 2023.
Drafted eighth overall by the Falcons in 2024, Penix recently replaced Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback due to underperformance, marking a significant moment in his rookie season as he prepares for his first NFL start.
Siblings
Michael has two siblings, including a middle brother named Mekhi, who is also an athlete.
While specific details about his other sibling are scarce, Penix has expressed that his brothers look up to him and have played a significant role in his motivation and success.
College career
Penix Jr. began his college career at Indiana University from 2018 to 2021, where he faced multiple injuries but still managed to showcase his talent.
In his freshman year, he played in six games, throwing for 1,394 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. Although he displayed flashes of potential, injuries limited his contributions.
In 2019, Penix became the starting quarterback and had a breakout season, throwing for 1,645 yards and 14 touchdowns in just nine games.
The 2020 season was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Penix led the Hoosiers to a strong start, including a notable win over Penn State.
Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending injury that limited his appearances.
In his senior year in 2021, despite showing promise early in the season, Penix struggled with consistency and injuries once again.
He finished the season with 1,645 passing yards and 9 touchdowns before deciding to transfer after the season.
In 2022, Penix transferred to the University of Washington, where he quickly established himself as a standout player in the Pac-12 Conference.
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During the 2022 season, he threw for over 4,600 yards and 31 touchdowns, leading Washington to an impressive season that culminated in a bowl game appearance.
In 2023, Penix continued his stellar play, leading the nation in passing yards with over 4,700 yards and earning numerous accolades.
He won the Maxwell Award as the nation’s best player and was a finalist for other prestigious awards.
NFL career
Penix was selected eighth overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
His strong college performance and impressive physical attributes made him one of the top quarterback prospects.
In his rookie season, he began as a backup quarterback behind veteran Kirk Cousins; however, after Cousins struggled with performance issues, the Falcons decided to make a change.
Recently, Penix was named the starting quarterback for the Falcons.
Accolades
Penix Jr. has received numerous accolades throughout his college football career, particularly during his time at the University of Washington.
Notably, he won the Maxwell Award in 2023, which is presented to the best player in college football, making him the first player in Washington’s history to earn this honor.
He also received recognition as a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week multiple times.
In addition to these honors, Penix was a finalist for several prestigious awards, including the Heisman Trophy, Davey O’Brien Award, and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
His impressive statistics include leading the nation in passing yards with 4,218 yards and throwing 33 touchdowns during the 2023 season.
Penix’s performance helped lead Washington to a 13-0 record and a spot in the College Football Playoff, further solidifying his status as one of college football’s top quarterbacks.
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