Michael Penix Jr. Faces Another Comeback - and He’s Embracing the Challenge Head-On
Michael Penix Jr. didn’t get the storybook start some might’ve hoped for after being taken No. 8 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2024 NFL Draft. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about the former Washington standout, it’s that he doesn’t back down from adversity-he charges straight at it.
After beginning his rookie season behind veteran Kirk Cousins, Penix took over as the Falcons’ starting quarterback in Week 16 and entered the 2025 season as the guy in Atlanta. It was a big moment for a player who battled his way through college injuries and still led Washington to the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
But Penix’s first full year as a starter hit a brutal detour. In Week 11, his season was cut short by a torn ACL-his third ACL tear, all on the right knee. The injury required reconstructive surgery, and Penix went under the knife just weeks later.
This could’ve been a breaking point. Instead, it’s become fuel.
On Wednesday, Penix took to Instagram with a message that was equal parts defiant and determined. In a raw, emotional post, he opened up about the weight he carries-not just as a quarterback, but as a man trying to provide, lead, and rise above the noise.
“As a man, you carry a lot of ‘pressure’ each and every day. Pressure to provide for your family, pressure to succeed in everything you do in life, pressure of letting everybody around you down,” Penix wrote. “But one thing I never did and never will do is fold in the face of it.”
This wasn’t just a personal reflection-it was a direct message to the doubters. The ones who’ve questioned whether he can come back from yet another major injury. The ones who’ve written him off.
Penix made it clear: he’s heard the noise. And he’s not interested in sympathy or applause. He just wants the chance to prove he belongs.
“How can you ever be mad at me when all I ever try to do is feed my family? How can you tell me I can’t do something, and you don’t know what it took for me to get here?”
he continued. “I never needed motivation or a pat on the back!
All I ever needed was an opportunity and as long as I got breath I got that! The turtle race continues….”
That last line-“The turtle race continues”-is a perfect encapsulation of who Penix is. He’s not flashy off the field.
He’s not chasing headlines. He’s just grinding, one step at a time, even if the road is longer and harder than most.
And while the Falcons’ 2025 season didn’t go the way they’d hoped-Penix went 3-6 in his nine starts-there were flashes. He completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,982 yards, throwing nine touchdowns to just three interceptions. That’s not empty production-it’s the kind of efficiency that hints at real potential if he can stay healthy.
There’s no sugarcoating it: three ACL surgeries is a mountain of a challenge for any athlete, let alone a quarterback whose game relies on mobility and timing. But Penix has been here before.
He knows what it takes to come back. And more importantly, he’s already shown the mental toughness to do it.
Atlanta, for its part, has to feel encouraged by the leadership and poise Penix continues to show-even while sidelined. In a league where the quarterback position demands more than just arm talent, Penix is showing he’s built for the emotional rollercoaster that is the NFL.
The next step is physical recovery. There’s no exact timetable yet, but Penix’s mindset tells you all you need to know: he’s not rushing, but he’s not backing down either.
The turtle race continues. And Michael Penix Jr. is still in it.