The Michael Penix, Jr. chapter is beginning in Atlanta.

The Falcons have opted to make the rookie quarterback their starter, replacing veteran Kirk Cousins ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the New York Giants. With a current record of 7-7, Atlanta remains competitive in the NFC South after their recent win of 15-9 against the Las Vegas Raiders, breaking a four-game losing streak.

Cousins, who is 36 years old, completed 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards alongside one touchdown and one interception against the Raiders. Throughout this season, Cousins has a completion rate of 66.9%, amassing 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns, and an NFL-high 16 interceptions.

Penix was drafted as the 8th overall pick in the NFL after an impressive college career. In his senior year at Washington, he guided the Huskies to the national championship game and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, just behind LSU’s Jayden Daniels.

Penix, now 24, has participated in two NFL games during the 2024 season, both occurring in late-game situations during losses, where he managed to throw for 38 yards on five attempts.

Michael Penix’s College Performance

Penix began his college football journey at Indiana back in 2018, but injuries limited him to just 20 games over four years. He finished his time at Indiana with 4,197 passing yards and 29 touchdowns.

Upon transferring to Washington, Penix’s career flourished. During his junior year, he topped the Pac-12 conference with 4,641 yards and 31 touchdowns, and he placed eighth in the Heisman Trophy standings.

In his senior season, Penix captured the attention of NFL scouts with a remarkable performance, throwing for 4,903 yards and 36 touchdowns, while only allowing 11 interceptions. He led Washington to a 14-1 record, though they fell to Michigan in the national championship game.

In total, Penix ended his collegiate career with an impressive record of 13,741 passing yards and 96 touchdowns.