The Atlanta Falcons hired Matt Ryan to fill their newly created position of President of Football, fulfilling their first offseason priority before turning to their search for a new head coach.
Ryan, a former Falcons quarterback, recently spoke about the team’s current occupant at the position.
Matt Ryan Speaks on Michael Penix Jr.
It was reported by Terrin Waack of the official team site that Matt Ryan said the following about Penix development as a quarterback:
“I’m not hired to come in and be the quarterback coach, but I love Mike and have gotten to know him through the last couple of years here in Atlanta. So, anything he needs from me, I’m a part of this organization and happy to help in any way that I can.”
What Happened to Penix?
Penix was relatively healthy to begin the 2025 season, but he was ruled out for the Falcons’ Week 8 game against the Miami Dolphins, which they lost by a 34-10 score, due to a bone bruise in his knee.
Then, in Week 11 against the Carolina Panthers, Penix went down after being hit in the pocket, leading to his exit from the game. He was subsequently diagnosed with a knee injury and remained sidelined for the remainder of a game Atlanta lost by a 30-27 score in overtime.
The eventual diagnosis for Penix was a torn ACL, which ended his 2025 season. It was reported that he underwent the surgery before the regular season concluded.
Ryan also spoke on Penix’s recovery and rehab process, stating, “It’s working together to figure out the right plan for Mike and his rehab. And that’s going to be our training rooms’ job and our doctors’ jobs and sports science and in the weight room. Everybody’s responsibility to make sure that is going as planned. And that’s really as simple as it gets.”
Penix threw for 1,982 passing yards and posted a 9:3 TD:INT throughout the season. His best game was against the Washington Commanders in Week 4, when he completed 20 of 26 passes for 313 yards with a 2:1 TD:INT in a 27-24 loss.
Falcons’ Season Overview
The Falcons concluded the 2025 season with a record of 8-9 and a third-place finish in the NFC South behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, missing the playoffs. A season that didn’t go according to plan was largely derailed by injuries, with Penix’s being one of the most impactful.
However, the Falcons were still able to win their last four games against the Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, and New Orleans Saints. They then hired two-time Coach of the Year winner Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach, kickstarting their offseason.
