Michael Penix
Jr.

Michael nearly guided the Falcons to a win against the Commanders in his second career start in 2024. In his second try against them, he got the job done. Penix notched his second 300-yard game on September 28, 2025, setting career highs in yards (313) and completion percentage (76.9%) while throwing for two touchdowns in a 34-27 victory over Washington.

Every Falcon is pulling for Penix. That includes a former Falcon, Matt Ryan. "Had a good conversation with him about learning the second-year QB to be a pro each and every day," the second-year QB said going into 2025. "He definitely gave me some good things." Every pointer and bit of advice will no doubt be put to good use.

As he took over in Atlanta in 2025, Penix made sure he was doing an important part of his job – syncing up with his pass-catchers. With the quarterback turning that connection, and hats something that argulus every day.

Penix turned pro in 2024 with a dynamite deep ball preinstalled. He made sure to show it off before his rookie season powered down. In Week 18, the first-year passer torched the Carolina secondary for 312 passing yards and two touchdowns on 21 completions, including seven completions of at least 20 yards.

For Penix, connections aren't just for the football field. They're for the locker room. "I want to get to know my teammates," the second-year pro said entering 2025 as the unquestioned QB1 in Atlanta. "Because then once you get to know them, now you know how to lead those guys."

For Penix, connections aren't just for the football field. They're for the locker room. "I want to get to know my teammates, the scoring and stuff will come," he said entering 2025 as the unquestioned QB1 in Atlanta. "Because that's where you get to know them…how you know how to read those guys."

The Falcons made one of the most intriguing picks in the 2024 draft when they took Penix at No. 8 overall. The 2023 Maxwell Award winner and Heisman Trophy runner-up led Washington to its best season in decades. He guided the team to a 13-0 regular season and led the nation in passing with 4,903 yards.

Many of Penix's college games impressed the Falcons. Right up there was the Sugar Bowl vs. Texas when he threw for 430 yards. "The pocket work, the way he got the ball out, his accuracy, his drive, his pace, his touch on all those throws," quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson said. "And he did it all by not taking any sacks."

Penix was known for stretching the field in college. His style carried over to the NFL, as the rookie ranked fourth out of 46 passers with at least 100 attempts in yards per completion (12.7). Only Anthony Richardson (14.4), Lamar Jackson (13.2) and Brock Purdy (12.7) logged more than the Falcons' southpaw slinger.

If you get a text from Penix with the word "process" and the heart eyes emoji, it would be on brand. "We've got to fall in love with the process," he said as he entered 2025 as the young leader of the Falcons. "We've got to work and build up. … We've got the talent. We've got everything we need."

Penix shined down the stretch during his 2024 debut season, teasing a high-flying offense that had Falcons fans excited for the future. Showing off his massive left arm, the southpaw passer averaged 10.1 air yards per attempt, which would have ranked second in the NFL had he qualified.

Penix entered the Falcons' matchup with the Broncos in Week 11 of 2024 and immediately got into a groove. The rookie showed poise as he fired a laser up the middle to Ray-Ray McCloud for a 20-yard gain on his first play from scrimmage, showing the same fire he displayed during his collegiate days.

Penix made his pro debut in Week 7 of 2024. Called on to finish off a tilt against Seattle, the rookie passer came off the bench and hit his only throw in limited action. On third down, he took a quick drop, turned and ripped a 14-yard completion to fellow first-year Casey Washington for a fresh set of downs.

Penix passed every passing test he faced in college. There's no reason to believe he won't do the same at the next level. The experienced signal-caller will hit the center of every target as he rises up the ranks from rookie reserve to weekly starter in Atlanta.

Boasting one of the strongest arms in the 2024 NFL Draft, Penix also showcases remarkable accuracy. On slant routes over the middle, the quarterback can zip the ball with perfect placement into tight windows. Easing up on the power, he can also float passes that hit Atlanta's wideouts right in stride.

Atlanta knows you can never have too many QBs, just one reason why the squad selected Penix with the eighth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Other factors that led to the pick aren't hard to spot. At Washington, the signal-caller picked apart defenses en route to back-to-back 4,500-yard passing seasons.

Penix loved being able to use a GoPro to go back and study his training camp reps when he got to Atlanta. "Mainly I look at my cadence," the No. 8 overall pick said. "If I've got good cadence. Am I repeating the cadence too much when trying to catch the defense off guard and give us an advantage."

Passes might as well be rushing plays with the way Penix hands the ball right to his target. Regardless of how far he slings the ball, it flies directly into his man's mitts with velocity and accuracy. Atlanta adored those aerial gives and selected the QB in the first round in 2024.

Penix completely changed his wardrobe after the Falcons drafted him in 2024. The eighth overall pick moved on from Washington's purple and gold kits. Switching them out for striking red and black jerseys, he looked like a million bucks in his new uniform.

It seems fitting that Penix got his first NFL completion against Seattle, the city where he excelled playing his collegiate ball with Washington. The 2023 Maxwell Award winner hit Casey Washington for a 14-yard game during the Falcons' matchup with the Seahawks in Week 7 of 2024.