Michael Penix Jr.’s shocking comments expose Falcons’ locker room issues

Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, may have just exposed a deeper issue in the Falcons’ locker room. The second-year quarterback gave an unexpected answer when asked if he had a mentor on the team.

“No,” Penix said when asked if he had anyone to turn to for advice. “Mentally, my fiancé… she’s always there for me. But as far as physically and on the field stuff, there’s not nobody I talk to as far as another quarterback or anything like that.”

Penix added that he does still receive advice from coaches back home, but his comments indicated that he is not turning to Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, his offensive coordinator, or any veteran teammates for guidance on the field.

Disconnect in support for Falcons QB?

The Falcons’ season has not gone as planned. After trading a 2026 first-round pick to help their defense and counting on Penix to lead the offense, Atlanta has dropped four straight games. Penix has struggled with accuracy, completing under 60% of his passes and ranking near the bottom of the league in off-target throws.

In Sunday’s overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Berlin, Germany, Penix completed just 12 of 28 passes for 177 yards, with a touchdown, three sacks, and a lost fumble.

Despite the struggles, Penix has shown a remarkable willingness to be emotionally accountable. He was visibly upset after the game, and Morris said he had a candid conversation with Penix to help him manage his emotions.

“Those are things you like to talk to him about,” Morris said. “It provides a little bit of relief for him, letting him know it’s okay to be vulnerable in that moment, but at the same time don’t be so disgruntled and hard on yourself that you blame yourself for everything.”

Penix said the conversation was helpful. “We did have that conversation, and it did help to hear that from him,” Penix said. “Knowing that everybody in the building understands what’s going on… Raheem gave me that perspective and just told me to give myself some grace and not be so hard on myself.”

While Morris described that conversation as a meaningful moment of support, Penix’s broader remarks indicate he still feels there is no on-field mentor or teammate he can turn to for guidance during games and practice. This contrast begs the question of whether communication and mentorship within the Falcons’ staff are reaching the young quarterback in the way the coaching staff intends.

Similarly, backup Kirk Cousins has publicly offered support to Penix, but Penix’s words suggest that those offers haven’t fully translated into meaningful mentorship either.

Penix has only 11 NFL starts, and given the instability around him - coaching turnover, banged-up offensive line, and limited offensive weapons - there’s reason to try to be patient. Still, the combination of underperformance on the field and the absence of in-team mentorship is a signal the Falcons cannot ignore. The offseason could be pivotal in determining whether Penix can realize the potential Atlanta envisioned when they made him a top-10 pick.

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