There are certain moments in a person’s life during which they’ll never forget where they were or what they were doing when something monumental happened. This will undoubtedly be the case for Michael Penix Jr. when he heard the news he was being handed the keys to the starting quarterback job this week.
Earlier this week, the Falcons announced that they would start the rookie following the bench of Kirk Cousins ahead of the team’s Week 16 matchup against the New York Giants.
Penix Jr. told reporters he was shopping at Costco and ordering one of the famous $1.50 hot dogs when he received the news.
‘I was shopping with my girlfriend. We was at Costco,’ Penix said during media availability on Wednesday. ‘I got the call, they told me that I was gonna be the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. As you can imagine, it was some nerves, it was excitement, but just super blessed to be in this position.’
Penix was actually in search of a sustenance when he got the news.
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‘I was actually getting a hot dog, and whenever I got the call, I wasn’t hungry no more.’
Penix Jr. added he’s been mentally prepared in case a day like Tuesday ever came.
“I wasn’t going to be surprised by it or anything. Not saying it’s something I expected, but at the end of the day, I just wanted to be ready,” he said.
The rookie told reporters he has received at least 35 ticket requests from family and friends for Sunday’s game.
The Atlanta Falcons sent shockwaves through the NFL during the 2024 draft when they selected Washington quarterback Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick.
Just weeks before the draft, Atlanta made one of the biggest splashes in 2024 free agency when they signed veteran quarterback Cousins to a massive contract. With three games remaining in the regular season, they have benched the 36-year-old in favor of the rookie.
The left-handed passer from Washington comes from a pass-heavy system run by Ryan Grubb, now the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator. Atlanta felt that Penix Jr. fits what their new offensive coordinator, Zac Robinson, from Sean McVay’s offense, would like from a quarterback. He excels as a pocket passer, similar to Matthew Stafford and Cousins.
In his final season at Washington, Penix Jr. led the FBS with 4,903 passing yards, ranked third in passing touchdowns with 36 and was a Heisman Trophy finalist.
The Falcons host the Giants on Sunday.