Falcons QB the franchise drafted with the No. 8 pick despite handing $100M to Kirk Cousins a month earlier.
Michael Penix Jr. has waited longer than most rookies for his chance. The Falcons made him the No. 8 overall pick in 2024, then sat him behind Kirk Cousins for a full year. Penix took over late in 2024 and started 13 games in 2025, putting up production that locked him in as Atlanta's long-term answer.
Path to the league
Started his college career at Indiana before transferring to Washington. Led the Huskies to the 2023 CFP National Championship Game as a senior, throwing for over 4,900 yards. Falcons surprised the league by taking him eighth overall the same offseason they signed Cousins to a $180 million deal.
Career highlights
2023 Heisman runner-up. CFP National Championship Game starter (2023). Threw for 4,903 yards as a senior at Washington, second most in a single season in Pac-12 history. Atlanta drafted him eighth overall in 2024.
2025 season recap
3,294 passing yards, 23 TDs, 11 INTs across 13 starts. Atlanta went 8-9 with Penix and Cousins splitting the year (Cousins was traded after Week 7). Drake London caught 95 passes for 1,180 yards. Bijan Robinson ran for 1,478 yards. Atlanta has the pieces around Penix to make a 2026 leap.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Michael Penix Jr.
- Pro Football Reference: Michael Penix Jr.
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Passing
9 games played▶Passing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CMP | ATT | YDS | TD | INT | RTG | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | falcons | 6 | 104 | 168 | 1,282 | 9 | 5 | 90.9 | 56.2 |
| 2025 | falcons | 9 | 166 | 276 | 1,982 | 9 | 3 | 88.5 | 57.9 |
| 2024 | falcons | 5 | 61 | 105 | 775 | 3 | 3 | 78.9 | 47.6 |
▶Rushing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | falcons | 6 | 17 | 15 | 0.9 | 0 | 7 |
| 2025 | falcons | 9 | 21 | 70 | 3.3 | 1 | 15 |
| 2024 | falcons | 5 | 7 | 11 | 1.6 | 1 | 5 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Quarterback
- Group
- offense
- College
- Washington
- Hometown
- Tampa, FL, USA
- Age
- 26
- Status
- active
Latest news about Michael Penix Jr.
All news →Buccaneers Beat Falcons 16-0 in Week 8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16, Atlanta Falcons 0 at Raymond James Stadium. Baker Mayfield went 0 of 3 for 0 yards.
Falcons Beat 49ers 29-20 in Week 7
Atlanta Falcons 29, San Francisco 49ers 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Michael Penix Jr. went 25 of 34 for 213 yards with 3 touchdowns.
Bears Beat Falcons 31-23 in Week 6
Chicago Bears 31, Atlanta Falcons 23 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Caleb Williams went 30 of 36 for 305 yards with 1 touchdown.
AI Predicts Every Week 6 Game of the 2026 NFL Season
After an 8-of-15 Week 5 in which the coin-flip picks went 1 for 6, the model picks all 14 Week 6 games, from Seahawks-Broncos on Thursday to Commanders-49ers on Monday night, with the Chiefs the widest lean.
Falcons' Michael Penix Jr. Hurts Rib Late, Tagovailoa's Overtime Interception Ends Loss to Ravens
Update: Penix took every first-team rep and was a full participant Wednesday. Kevin Stefanski says he starts Sunday against Chicago barring a setback.
Ravens Beat Falcons 30-23 in Week 5
Baltimore Ravens 30, Atlanta Falcons 23 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tyler Huntley went 24 of 32 for 201 yards with 2 touchdowns.
