The Falcons quarterback returned to Dade City, Florida, over the weekend to be honored.

Terrin Waack

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. made a trip home to Florida over the weekend for a rather special event.

On Saturday, Penix's hometown of Dade City unveiled a street sign bearing his name "Michael Penix Jr. St." There was a ribbon-cutting ceremony and everything. All the works for the 25-year-old local legend.

The Falcons drafted Penix No. 8 overall in 2024 afteran impressive collegiate careersplit between Indiana University and more notably the University of Washington. Atlanta's plan at the time was for Penix to develop under starting veteran Kirk Cousins, who the Falcons signed to a four-year deal the month prior in free agency. However, that plan was accelerated when poor play pushed the Falcons to bench Cousins in favor of Penix as Week 16 arrived.

Through the final three games, Penix completed 58 of 100 pass attempts for 737 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran the ball seven times for 11 yards and a touchdown. Naturally, there were hiccups such as three interceptions and three sacks but he was a rookie who was unexpectedly slotted into a first-team offense he had previously not taken any significant reps with in practice.

"There's a couple things about those three games where it's just his ability to manipulate defenders with his eyes," Falcons quarterbacks coach T.J. Yates said. "How he saw the entire picture was kind of set in stone for all of us. Like, 'Alright, we got a guy here.'"

There werebig enough flashes of promisein Penix's limited starts that Falcons head coach Raheem Morris did not hesitate to name Penix the starter moving forward into 2025 as soon as last season ended.

Penix'stenure as QB1 has already begunin Atlanta with the Falcons' offseason program, which concluded earlier this month, and will continue when training camp begins in late July.

"He's finding his voice," Morris said. "As you know, when you take over that quarterback spot, there's a certain humility about playing the position, and then it becomes a certain confidence about playing the position. It eventually turns into a little bit of almost an arrogance about playing the position where it becomes non-negotiable. We're not there yet. I don't think we will be for a little bit, but I think he's at the mode of where he's starting to get the confidence to be able to figure out how to get to that moment."

One thing is certain:Adversity is nothing new to Penix, who wrote as much inThe Players Tribuneentry he penned prior to the draft. It focused a lot on his journey to the NFL, beginning with prep school in Florida.

Penix played two years at Pasco High School in Dade City and then another two at Tampa Bay Technical High School His family moved for better exposure in the recruiting process. Penix, though, has never shied away from his roots.

"I'm a product of Dade City, FL," Penix wrote. "Population 7,600. No Trader Joe's, no Whole Foods. No steak houses or country clubs. No personal QB coach, no strength coach, no state-of-the-art training equipment. Nothing about Dade City is luxurious, but that's the way we like it. It's a town full of pride, and a lot of our pride comes from football. We swap out summer camps for tackle football on concrete in the 95-degree heat. You find out quick if you're built for this game or not."

Penix was is built for this game. Dade City saw it first, and in the community where his road to the NFL began, a street sign now honors his journey.

Up Next

Videos

Bijan Robinson's Berlin Adventure

Videos

Who are the best Atlanta Falcons since 2000? We made a bracket to find out | Atlanta Falcons Podcast

Videos

Atlanta Falcons head-to-head debate: How much sleep do you really need? | Ruffled Feathers

Videos

Mailbag: Jalon Walker's role, sleeper impact players & a fan's guide to training camp | Atlanta Falcons Podcast

Videos

Atlanta Falcons 2025 Minicamp Highlights | Top Plays | NFL

Videos

Final thoughts from Falcons' OTAs, early look ahead to training camp | Atlanta Falcons Podcast

Videos

Jessie Bates III, Jalon Walker & other defensive Falcons on positive momentum through OTAs

Videos

Bijan Robinson, Ryan Neuzil & Emory Jones share final thoughts on offensive progress throughout OTAs

Videos

Head Coach Raheem Morris Mandatory Minicamp Day Two Press Conference | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Kirk Cousins, Drake London & more speak to the media during mandatory minicamp | Press Conference

Videos

Michael Penix Jr. speaks on team growth following day one of Mandatory Minicamp | Press Conference

Videos

Head Coach Raheem Morris Mandatory Minicamp Press Conference | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Atlanta Falcons 2025 OTA Highlights | Top Moments from Offseason Program

Videos

Falcons legend Michael Vick on coaching in college, Michael Penix Jr. & his favorite Falcons memory

Videos

Bijan Robinson's next step, expectations for Kyle Pitts & more from OTAs | Atlanta Falcons Podcast

Videos

A.J. Terrell Jr. & Divine Deablo are hyped about new-look defense | Press Conferences

Videos

Bijan Robinson, Drake London & others speak on building offensive weapons in OTAs | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Raheem Morris excited for the effort & work out on field during OTAs| Press Conference

Videos

On the Rise | S5E3 | Bright Futures Begin for Atlanta Falcons 2025 Rookie Class

Videos

Falcons kick off OTAs + Deep dive into realistic rookie expectations | Atlanta Falcons Podcast

Videos

Jessie Bates III, Kaden Elliss & other defensive Falcons reflect on first practice of 2025 OTAs

Videos

Michael Penix Jr., Darnell Mooney & others speak with media following the first practice of OTAs

Videos

Head Coach Raheem Morris OTAs Press Conference | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

D.J. Williams, T.J. Yates & others speak on exciting future for Falcons' offense | Press Conference

Videos

Jerry Gray, Nate Ollie & other Atlanta Falcons defensive coaches speak with media | Press Conference

Videos

Georgia Girls Flag Football / House Resolution 347 Celebration

Videos

Marquice Williams, Zac Robinson & Jeff Ulbrich give updates on offseason program | Press Conferences

Videos

Atlanta Falcons open up OTAs at Flowery Branch training facility | Highlights | NFL

Videos

Breaking down EVERY game of the 2025 Atlanta Falcons schedule | NFL Schedule Release

Videos

Welcome to ATL Kart | Schedule Release 2025

Videos

It's finally HERE! Full Falcons schedule deep dive, hardest stretch & more | Atlanta Falcons Podcast

Videos

Atlanta Falcons Rookie minicamp highlights | First look at 2025 Draft Class | NFL

Videos

Jalon Walker, James Pearce Jr. & other Atlanta Falcons excited to get to work on field | 2025 Rookie Minicamp

Videos

Raheem Morris excited to kick off the 2025 Atlanta Falcons rookie minicamp | Press Conference

Videos

On the Rise | S5E2 | All Access look into the Atlanta Falcons 2025 NFL Draft | NFL

Videos

Atlanta Falcons 2025 rookies arrive to rookie minicamp

Videos

"Juice", Cam Newton & video game bounties: James Pearce Jr. joins Falcons in Focus

Videos

The Tin Man, telepathy & the perfect podcasting voice: Jalon Walker joins Falcons in Focus

Videos

Jerry Gray, Atlanta Falcons defensive staff speak after the 2025 NFL Draft | Press Conferences

Videos

Zac Robinson, T.J. Yates, Kevin Koger & other offensive coaches speak with media | Atlanta Falcons