Michael Penix: Making playoffs is what will make an effective

The release of Quarterback on Netflix this week shifted attention back to the Falcons’ decision to turn to Michael Penix as their starting quarterback last season.

Kirk Cousins is among the topics of the show and Cousins said that he felt the Falcons “deceived” him by preparing Penix early in the preliminary after signing Cousins as a free agent earlier in the offseason. That draft option meant Cousins’s days as the starter in Atlanta were numbered and the Falcons made the move with 3 games left in the routine season.

That didn’t leave much time for Penix to get his feet wet, however he’s not looking at 2025 as a postponed rookie season devoted to accustoming himself to the NFL. During an interview with former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick for the group’s website, Penix made it clear that he’ll just view the coming year as a success if it ends with the group playing its first playoff game since the 2017 season.

“Postseason. Got to get into the postseason,” Penix stated. “Seeing the Dirty Bird Nest and all the little highlights and fans. Guy, they get rocking whenever we winning. So, I definitely wish to get back to that. Winning football games so we can have the city turnt.”

The 2017 season was likewise the last time the Falcons ended up a year with a winning record, so making great on his goal would put Penix on the ideal track for a long run as the leading male in Atlanta.