FLOWERY BRANCH — New Falcons starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was out doing some shopping Tuesday night when he received the life-changing phone call.
He was at a popular big-box store with the cheap hot dogs and massive TV sets.
“I got a hot dog,” Penix said Wednesday. “But I wasn’t hungry no more.”
His days of holding the clipboard and listening to plays on Sundays were over.
The Falcons called to tell him that he would be the starting quarterback for the rest of the 2024 season. Penix will start in place of Kirk Cousins for the Falcons (7-7) when they face the Giants (2-12) at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Falcons are in the race for the NFC South title, trailing Tampa Bay by one game with three to play. The Falcons are in the No. 9 spot in the NFC, in the hunt for one of the seven seeds in the NFC playoffs, and are alive in the wild-card race.
“Shopping with my girlfriend,” Penix said. “We were at Costco, and we got the call. They told me that I was going to be the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. As you could imagine, there were some nerves. It was some excitement. Just super blessed to be in this position. Super blessed to be on this team for the opportunity.”
Cousins had struggled over the past five games, in which the Falcons went 1-4 and lost their first-place lead. He tossed nine interceptions and threw one touchdown pass during that stretch.
Cousins also leads the NFL with 16 interceptions and 13 fumbles. The Falcons lost only two of the fumbles, but the 18 turnovers led to his benching.
“My family always says, trust in God, trust in the process,” said Penix, who starred at Washington and Indiana. “Go about each and every day with that trust and belief that whenever it’s your time, it’s your time. They called last night and said it was my time.”
Penix was taken with the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft this year. Most of the draft pundits thought it was a bizarre move, considering that the Falcons had just signed Cousins to a four-year deal worth up to $180 million.
The Falcons’ plan was to have Penix develop while Cousins was leading the team. Penix has been running the scout team — the opposition’s offense — in practice against the first-team defense. He prepared for games by watching Cousins run the plays.
“Just the mental reps, that was always there,” Penix said. “I always make sure that I’m prepared. I’m preparing like the starter and always being ready. I didn’t know when my number was being called. It could have been called at any point. Just me making sure that I was ready, that was the biggest thing.”
He went through the walk-through practice Wednesday, and the team ripped off 72 plays, according to offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
While running the scout team, Penix was working mostly with the practice-squad receivers. He has to spend some time on task with the starters.
Wide receiver Drake London (919 yards) and Darnell Mooney (873) are closing in on thousand-yard seasons. Ray-Ray McCloud (588) ranks third on the team in receiving yards, followed by tight end Kyle Pitts (536) and running back Bijan Robinson (411).
“I already talked to some of the receivers, and they said they are ready to get those reps. If we have to do it after practice to get more, they are willing to stay,” Penix said. “That’s the biggest thing, just make sure that I find time to get with those guys.”
Cousins called Penix on Tuesday night. Cousins said Wednesday he wanted to shoot the “elephant in the room.”
“He’s just told me that he’s in my corner, the same way I was for him when he was the starter,” Penix said. “He said that he was going to come into the building, continue to stay positive and do whatever he can to help me, help this team win football games.”
Penix said he’s looking forward to running out of the tunnel Sunday.
“I was basically thinking about just leading up to it, if we are running out of the tunnel, that will be my first time running out of the tunnel,” Penix said. “I (not) going to lie, I’m going to be nervous running out of that tunnel.
“But whenever I get out on that field, it’s a whole different mentality, it’s flip the switch and I’m ready to go. I’m going to be ready.”
Penix had two spectacular seasons after transferring from Indiana to Washington. He guided the Huskies to the College Football Playoff title game in the 2023 season and won the Maxwell Award as the nation’s top player.
Penix was a part of a historic draft class. He was the fourth quarterback taken behind Caleb Williams (Bears, first overall), Jayden Daniels (Commanders, second) and Drake Maye (Patriots, third). Also, J.J. McCarthy was taken 10th by the Vikings, and Bo Nix was selected 12th by the Broncos.
The last time that six quarterbacks were selected in the first round was in 1983, when Pro Football Hall of Famers John Elway (first overall), Jim Kelly (14th) and Dan Marino (27th) were selected. Todd Blackledge (seventh), Tony Eason (15th) and Ken O’Brien (24) also were taken in the first round that year.
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