Falcons' Michael Penix Jr. addresses the doubters: 'The turtle race continues'

The quarterback, who took Washington to the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, said that he's never received any handouts and that his road to the highest level of football has never been easy.

He's faced uncertainties, but he's never asked for any sympathy.

"How can you ever be mad at me when all I ever try to do is feed my family? How can you tell me I can’t do something, and you don’t know what it took for me to get here?" he asked in the post.

Basically, Penix told the folks who don't believe in his ability to make a comeback to stick around and watch. 

"I never needed motivation or a pat on the back!" he wrote. "All I ever needed was an opportunity and as long as I got breath I got that! The turtle race continues…."

Slow and steady wins the race, as they say, and in Penix, the Falcons can at least know they have an emotionally steady quarterback who is able to handle the ups and downs of the NFL.

Atlanta went 3-6 in Penix's nine starts in 2025, but he completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,982 yards and nine touchdowns compared to just three interceptions.

There's something there with Penix. Now he just has to get back onto the field.