Total Pro Sports
When life-changing news hits, you don’t expect it to come while standing in line for a $1.50 hot dog. But that’s exactly what happened to Michael Penix Jr.
The rookie quarterback out of Washington was wrapping up a trip to Costco when his phone rang. Just moments before he could sink his teeth into that famous food court deal, the Falcons called with a bombshell: He was going to be the starting quarterback. His fiancee, Olivia Carter, caught the moment on video. She shared it on her Instagram Story this week, right as training camp got underway.
Costco hot dogs and a shot at leading an NFL franchise? That’s a memory that’s going to stick.
The Atlanta Falcons made waves during the 2024 NFL Draft by selecting Penix with the No. 8 pick. That move stunned many. Especially since the team had just handed Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract less than two months earlier.
Penix started the season on the bench, getting occasional reps in garbage time. But that changed after Atlanta’s Week 15 win over the Raiders. Sitting at 7-7 and still alive in the playoff hunt, the team made a bold call. They benched Cousins and handed the reins to the rookie.
That’s the phone call Penix got while standing next to a pack of Kirkland Signature paper towels.
“I was actually getting a hot dog, and whenever I got the call, I wasn’t hungry no more,” Penix said in the now-viral clip.
He didn’t finish the meal. But he did deliver in his first start, leading the Falcons to a dominant 34-7 win. Unfortunately, Atlanta dropped its final two games and missed the playoffs.
Even so, Penix made his mark.
As of now, he’s expected to remain the starter. Cousins, who turns 37 before the 2025 season, is still on the roster. But reports suggest the Falcons are exploring trade options to move him.
Meanwhile, Penix and Carter have kept things rolling off the field. Just weeks after that Costco moment, he proposed. She said yes.
That phone call may have cost him a hot dog, but it handed him the keys to an NFL franchise and led to an unforgettable love story.
Also Read: Who Is Michael Penix Jr.? All About Atlanta Falcons New Starting QB
