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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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Touchdown Week's model went 26 of 49 on preseason winners. Now the picks that count: a projected score, win probability and confidence rating for all 16 Week 1 games, from the Super Bowl rematch in Seattle to Mahomes' return on Monday night.
Tua Tagovailoa Calls Falcons Debut 'Not Up to Standard' in Blowout Loss
Update: Atlanta named Tagovailoa its Week 1 starter against Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, with Michael Penix Jr. inactive as he works back from his torn ACL and coach Kevin Stefanski calling it a week-to-week decision.
Undrafted QB Jack Strand Getting First-Team Reps as Falcons' Injuries Pile Up
With Tua Tagovailoa sidelined by a back flare-up and Michael Penix Jr. still weeks from full contact, the Minnesota State Moorhead product went 7-of-8 in one camp session.
Tua Tagovailoa Not Fretting Back Issue, Unsure on Full Return Timeline
The quarterback missed a training camp session with a flare-up before returning to practice Thursday, as he competes for Atlanta's starting job with Michael Penix Jr. still working back from an ACL injury.
Falcons sign Kyle Pitts to 3-year, $54 million extension, voiding the franchise tag
The deal carries $36 million fully guaranteed and an $18 million average, the third-highest at the position. The tag that bridged Atlanta and Pitts in the spring is now off the books.
Michael Penix Jr. expects to be a full go by Falcons training camp
The Falcons quarterback tore his left ACL in Week 11 last season. He says the plan is to handle everything in team drills when camp opens in late July, pending one final sign-off from his doctor.
