Michael Penix Jr. had a lot on his plate this week.
On Sunday he made his NFL starting debut, leading the Atlanta Falcons to a victory over the New York Giants.
Later that week, he got engaged. In a video posted to Instagram on Saturday, he proposed to his girlfriend Olivia Carter in what appears to be his Atlanta backyard, decked out with Christmas decorations and a giant “MARRY ME” display.
With a sizable audience present, Carter said yes and the couple began celebrating.
Carter is a former college football player at Nevada and a native of Washington state, where Penix became a star with the Huskies. Their relationship dates back to at least last November.
The Falcons surprisingly selected Penix with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The selection was not a surprise due to Penix’s resume as much as the signing of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins for $180 million earlier in the year. the low season. After a tough 14 games to start his Falcons career, Atlanta benched Cousins for Penix.
Penix didn’t have the best numbers in his first start, but there were encouraging signs that he could lead the Falcons’ offense to its potential. His next challenge will be in prime time, against fellow rookie Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
After that, it’s time to plan the wedding.