The Atlanta Falcons’ training facility buzzed with typical preseason energy last summer, among them, newly-signed veteran safety Justin Simmons watched a certain rookie quarterback taking second-team reps.
Within days, something caught his eye—something that made him pause and reconsider everything he thought he knew about the team’s future.
That rookie was Michael Penix Jr., and now the Atlanta Falcons are reportedly handing him the keys to the franchise—even with Kirk Cousins still on the roster.
The eighth overall pick who was supposed to develop for two years is instead taking center stage just fourteen games into his NFL career.
When asked about Penix recently on Kay Adams’ show, Simmons revealed the exact moment he became a believer:
“Training camp. It was my third day of practice, literally third day being there. He was running the second-team reps and going up against the second-team defense, and he had this no-look throw down the sideline right into — it was the craziest throw I think I’ve ever seen in person. I was like, ‘oh, whatever it is, he has it.’ So, I’m excited to see what he does,” Simmons said.
The veteran defender, who chose Atlanta over New Orleans after leaving Denver, needed just three days to recognize what the Falcons’ front office saw on draft day.
Penix’s trajectory has been remarkable to witness.
From his early days at Indiana through his emergence as a star at Washington, he’s consistently shown rare leadership qualities that set him apart from other collegiate signal-callers.
His elite college performance raised expectations, but the NFL transition remains the ultimate test for any quarterback prospect.
What’s most telling is how quickly Penix won over the locker room.
According to team sources, Simmons wasn’t alone in spotting that special quality—other Falcons veterans also took notice during those early camp sessions.
