Michael Tarrence Penix Jr. ( ; born May 8, 2000) is an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

quarterback The quarterback (QB) is a position in gridiron football who are members of the offensive side of the ball and mostly line up directly behind the Lineman (football), offensive line. In modern American football, the quarterback is usually consider ...

for the

Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The Falcons were founded o ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). After three seasons of

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

with the

Indiana Hoosiers The Indiana Hoosiers are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of Indiana University Bloomington, named after the demonym for people from the state of Indiana. The Hoosiers participate in NCAA Division I, Division I of the National Coll ...

that were limited by injury, Penix had a breakout year with the

Washington Huskies The Washington Huskies are the college athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Washington, located in Seattle. The school competes at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) N ...

in 2022 when he led the FBS in yards per game and set the school season record for passing yards. The following year, he won the

Maxwell Award The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the college football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best all ...

after leading the

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

in passing yards en route to an appearance in the

2024 College Football Playoff National Championship The 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship (officially known as the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T for sponsorship reasons) was a college football bowl game that was played on January 8, 2024, ...

. Penix was selected by the Falcons eighth overall in the

2024 NFL draft The 2024 NFL draft was the 89th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players. The draft was held at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit on April 25–27, 2024. The draft had an attendanc ...

Early life

Penix was born in

Cookeville, Tennessee Cookeville is the county seat and largest city of Putnam County, Tennessee, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was reported to be 34,842. It is recognized as one of the country's Cookeville micropolitan area, mic ...

, but later moved and was raised in

Dade City, Florida Dade City, officially the City of Dade City, is a city in, and the county seat of Pasco County, Florida, United States. It is located in the Tampa Bay Area, northeast of Tampa, Florida, Tampa and southwest of Orlando, Florida, Orlando. The popu ...

. Penix attended

Tampa Bay Technical High School Tampa Bay Technical High School (TBT) is a public comprehensive Magnet school, magnet high school for grades 9–12 in Florida, United States. It was established in 1969 as Tampa Bay Vocational-technical school, Vocational Technical School. The ...

and started at quarterback for the Titans for two seasons, passing for 4,243 yards with 61

touchdowns A touchdown (abbreviated as TD) is a scoring play in gridiron football. Scoring a touchdown grants the team that scored it 6 points. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchd ...

and only six

interceptions In ball-playing competitive team sports, an interception or pick is a move by a player involving a pass of the ball—whether by foot or hand, depending on the rules of the sport—in which the ball is intended for a player of the same team bu ...

. He committed to

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a state university system, system of Public university, public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. The system has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration o ...

to play

, as a 3-star recruit according to 247 sports.

College career

Indiana

As a true freshman for the Hoosiers in

2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...

at Indiana, Penix played in three games, suffered a

torn anterior cruciate ligament An anterior cruciate ligament injury occurs when the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is either stretched, partially torn, or completely torn. The most common injury is a complete tear. Symptoms include pain, an audible cracking sound during in ...

(ACL), and was

redshirted Redshirt, in United States college athletics, is a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen their period of eligibility. Typically, a student's athletic eligibility in a given sport is four seasons, aligning with the ...

. He completed 21 of 34 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown. Named the starter entering the

2019 season Nineteen or 19 may refer to: * 19 (number) * One of the years 19 BC, AD 19, 1919, 2019 Films * ''19'' (film), a 2001 Japanese film * ''Nineteen'' (1987 film), a 1987 science fiction film * '' 19-Nineteen'', a 2009 South Korean film * '' Dici ...

, Penix, however, only played in six games due to injury, completing 110 of 160 passes for 1,394 yards, with ten touchdowns and four interceptions. Penix returned to Indiana as the starter for the pandemic-shortened season in

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

. On November 30, he was ruled out for the season after suffering a

torn ACL An anterior cruciate ligament injury occurs when the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is either stretched, partially torn, or completely torn. The most common injury is a complete tear. Symptoms include pain, an audible cracking sound during in ...

in a win against

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

Washington

Penix transferred to the

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW and informally U-Dub or U Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington, United States. Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast of the Uni ...

in December 2021. He was the FBS leader in passing yards per game for the 2022 season (357) and led the Huskies to an 11–2 record. He threw 4,641 passing yards, becoming the Washington Huskies all-time single-season passing leader during the Alamo Bowl. He was named AP Comeback Player of the Year. In his senior year, Penix led the 2023 Huskies to an undefeated 13-0 regular season, a victory over Texas in the CFP Semifinal Game, and the

game, which they lost 34–13 to Michigan. Penix won the

and finished second in the

Heisman Trophy The Heisman Memorial Trophy ( ; also known simply as the Heisman) is awarded annually since 1935 to the top player in college football. It is considered the most prestigious award in the sport and is presented by the Heisman Trophy Trust followin ...

voting, the highest ever for a Husky. He led the NCAA in passing yards with 4,903, beating his previously set University of Washington single-season passing yards record. Penix was named MVP of the Pac-12 Championship Game, leading UW to a win over

rival A rivalry is the state of two people or Social group, groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each ...

No. 5 Oregon, and threw for 27-for-39 for 319 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

College statistics

Professional career

Pre-draft

2024 season

Penix was selected by the

as the eighth overall pick in the

. The pick was seen as a major surprise because the Falcons had signed

Kirk Cousins Kirk Daniel Cousins (born August 19, 1988) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans football, Mi ...

to a four-year, $180 million contract earlier in the offseason. He was the fourth of six quarterbacks taken in the first round, tied with the 1983 draft for the most in NFL history. Penix signed a four-year fully-guaranteed contract worth $22.8 million on June 24, 2024. Penix began his rookie season as a backup to veteran quarterback

. On October 20, Penix made his NFL debut late in the fourth quarter during the Falcons' blowout loss to the

Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The club entered the NFL a ...

, completing his lone pass for 14 yards to

Casey Washington Casey Washington (born March 6, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and was selected by the Falcons in ...

. Following poor play from Cousins, the Falcons announced on December 17 that Penix would replace Cousins as the starting quarterback, beginning with their week 16 matchup against the

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...

. In his first career start, Penix completed 18-of-27 passes for 202 yards, including one interception after a bobbled pass by

Kyle Pitts Kyle Anthony Pitts (born October 6, 2000) is an American professional football tight end for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators, where he was named a unanimous All-America ...

, as the Falcons routed the Giants 34–7. In week 17, on Sunday Night Football, against the

Washington Commanders The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) East division ...

Penix completed his first touchdown pass, to

, to tie the game with 1:19 left in the fourth quarter. He finished 19 of 35 passes, for 223 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception. The game went into overtime, and eventually the Commanders won 30-24. The game was the first time in NFL history that two rookie quarterbacks selected in the first round faced off against each other in a prime-time game, as Penix faced off against rookie

Jayden Daniels Jayden Daniels (born December 18, 2000) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Daniels is considered a dual-threat player, being adept at both pa ...

. This loss would eventually eliminate the Falcons from Playoff contention, following a win the following week by the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (colloquially known as the Bucs) are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC S ...

NFL career statistics

Personal life

On December 29, 2024, Penix announced his engagement to his girlfriend Olivia Carter. Penix is one of only two left-handed starting quarterbacks in the NFL, alongside

Tua Tagovailoa Tuanigamanuolepola Donny Tagovailoa ( ; born March 2, 1998) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide ...

. Penix is a

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

. His father was a running back for the

Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Tennessee Technological University (TTU), located in Cookeville, Tennessee, United States. The TTU athletic program is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and ...

in the 1990s and holds several school rushing records; his mother ran track at Tennessee Tech.

References

External links

*
Atlanta Falcons bio

Washington Huskies bio

Indiana Hoosiers bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Penix Jr., Michael 2000 births Living people American football quarterbacks Atlanta Falcons players Indiana Hoosiers football players People from Dade City, Florida Players of American football from Tampa, Florida Washington Huskies football players People from Cookeville, Tennessee Maxwell Award winners