Football is a huge part of Michael Penix Jr.‘s life, and his family has been with him every step of the way.
With Penix playing his sophomore season in the NFL, we look closer at his parents and the upbringing that has helped get him to this point in his career.
A Look at Michael Penix Jr.’s Parents
Penix’s parents are Michael Sr. and Takisha. Both of them had a profound impact on their son and his siblings’ lives as they rose from childhood to adulthood.
Both Michael Sr. and Takisha have helped the Washington QB and his siblings navigate life in the world of football and adulthood and everything else that comes with it.
Getting To Know Michael Sr.
The former Huskie’s father is not unfamiliar with the gridiron, and much like his son, played football at a high level during his career. Michael Sr. is a former standout running back at Pasco High School and a collegiate player at Tennessee Tech.
Initially, the younger Penix followed in his father’s footsteps and played at the same high school as his father before being pulled out and enrolled in another school that could further help him in football pursuits.
The family relocated to Hillsborough County and enrolled him at Tampa Bay Tech before his junior season so that Penix could showcase the best of his abilities.
“As parents, it’s our job to make sure everybody else sees that talent. So we made that move and that decision,” the elder Michael said.
As for Michael Sr. and his career, he has since transitioned into coaching after his playing days ended. He coached at his alma mater, Pasco High School, and worked as a counselor and supervisor for troubled children at AMIkids.
Football is part of the story for the elder Penix, but it isn’t the complete picture as he has not only helped his children’s lives but seems to be doing the same in his career outside of football as well.
Getting To Know Takisha
Penix’s mother is impressive in her own right, and while it may not come on a playing field in a sport, the matriarch of the Penix family is known for achievements in the corporate setting. Takisha is a senior project manager for Lockheed Martin, in addition to raising Michael Jr. and his two siblings.
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Less is known about Takisha compared to her husband and her son, but the NFL prospect has credited his family life at home for helping him through his toughest battles, and highest achievements, with his mother playing a huge part in that.
Does Penix Have Any Siblings?
There isn’t much known about the other Penix children, just that the QB prospect has two siblings. What their names are, or what they do, is not public information at this time, but as their brother’s career in the NFL grows, maybe too shall their notoriety.
Falcons Players’ Fantasy Outlook for Week 7
Here’s what PFSN’s Kyle Soppe wrote on the notable Falcons players’ fantasy outlooks for the Week 7 matchup against the 49ers:
Michael Penix Jr.
This is part of the developmental process. Michael Penix looks a lot like Cam Ward when I turn on the TV, in that there are some plays made at a high level and others missed without much reason.
I thought he showed well for himself in the upset of the Bills last week, but it didn’t really pay off in fantasy points (250 pass yards, one TD, 6 rushing yards).
He was what the Falcons needed, and he continues to load up his talented teammates with as much usage as they can handle. That’s the path to success for Atlanta, but not us.
Penix has just one game with multiple touchdown passes this season and has a total of 16 rushing yards over his past four. Steps are being taken, and that’s good for the long-term fantasy picture.
Bijan Robinson
There are three instances this season in which a player has 140+ rushing yards and 5+ targets: Bijan Robinson is responsible for two of them.
The first was the Week 2 beatdown of the Vikings, and the second was on Monday night against the Bills, a sparkling performance highlighted by an 81-yard touchdown run. Robinson has a 25-yard touch and five targets in every game this season, a role/skill set combination that is as close to bulletproof as it gets.
He’s a highlight waiting to happen: this game is appointment viewing on Sunday night, as we will have one of the best running backs in recent memory on the field essentially at all times.
Drake London
Through five games, Drake London has more catches (34) than any of his teammates have targets, and Darnell Mooney, who has missed 40% of Atlanta’s games this season, remains second on the target leaderboard when it comes to Falcon WRs.
Penix is far from a polished prospect. Still, he seems keenly aware that getting the ball to his high-pedigree teammates is a good way to make a living, and he’s executing (London, Robinson, and Kyle Pitts have accounted for 69.6% of Atlanta targets).
London has earned 10+ targets three times this season, and his monster game on Monday night (10-158-1) grows if a touchdown at the end of the first half doesn’t come off the board.
The 49ers’ defense is playing well above expectations this season, but they’ve allowed a receiver to clear 15 PPR points in four of six games, and even if Mooney were to return to action, there’s not much debating as to who the most likely player on this team is to check that box.
London is a top 10 play for me this week and not far off of that for the second half of the season as a whole.
Kyle Pitts
With under 40 receiving yards in three of his past four games, at this point, I’d love to tell you that Kyle Pitts is a TD-reliant tight end, but that’s like saying I’m a pickup basketball player who relies on his height.
I’m 5’10”. On a good day.
Pitts has played 66 games across his five seasons, earning 361 targets in the process and scoring just 11 times. If you’re waiting on a single target to get you 7-9 points, more often than not, you’re going to be waiting for all four quarters in that given week.
This, to me at least, looks different than Pitts’ tease runs of years past. His PPR points per target are trending toward a career high, and the efficiency is in a good spot to sustain, given his target diet.
- 2021: 11.2 aDOT
- 2022: 13.7 aDOT
- 2023: 12.0 aDOT
- 2024: 8.7 aDOT
- 2025: 4.9 aDOT
There’s a world in which he’s racking up 5+ catches a week, and that fuels double-digit PPR production every week.
I’m just not sure we are living in that world.
