Michael Penix Jr. family tree: Meet fiancee Olivia Carter, dad Michael Sr. and more from Florida roots

Teddy Ricketson

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Michael Penix Jr. family tree: Meet fiancee Olivia Carter, dad Michael Sr. and more from Florida roots image

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Michael Penix Jr. was a source of controversy during his NFL Draft, but it wasn't his fault. The oft-injured southpaw from Washington was selected with the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 2024 draft by the Falcons. 

The choice was controversial for two reasons. First, Atlanta had just signed Kirk Cousins to a monster four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed earlier in the offseason. The second was that there were several questions about Penix being a first-round pick due to his injury history and the fact that he turned 25 a few weeks after the draft. 

Like he has his whole football career, Penix took it in stride and battled. He likely leaned on his father, who is a former quarterback, for guidance, and it didn't hurt that he got engaged a few days after starting in his first career game.

Here is more information on Penix's family, including details about his fiancée, father and two brothers. 

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Michael Penix Jr. fiancee: Olivia Carter

We don't know officially when they started dating, but they have been social media official since November 2023. Penix proposed on Dec. 29, 2024.

Carter is from Kent, Washington. She went to the University of Nevada and played collegiate soccer. Carter played for the Wolf Pack from 2018-2021. She was a forward and played in 41 career games, scoring one goal and providing one assist. "Athletics is just my life. That is all I do. I play soccer. I’m always training. I just love to be a runner. It is one of my favorite things."

Carter's parents are named Christopher and Regina, and she has two brothers, Quincy and Theo. She initially attended Renton High School, before transferring as a sophomore to Kent-Meridian. Carter said her dad played basketball, while her mom ran track. Her brother Quincy played football at Central Washington University. 

She graduated from Nevada with a degree in Biology. Carter was with Penix when he got the call from Atlanta that he was going to be the starting quarterback for the remainder of his rookie season. The QB said, "I was shopping with my girlfriend and we were at Costco. I got the call, and they told me I was gonna be the starting quarterback for the rest of the season."

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Michael Penix Jr. dad: Michael Penix Sr. 

Penix Sr. went to Pasco High School in Dade City, Florida. He played football throughout high school and went on to play for the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. Penix Sr. was at Tennessee Tech from 1992 to 1995. While his son is a quarterback, he was a running back. Penix Sr. had 14 touchdowns his senior year and 10 as a junior. He finished with 30 career rushing scores and three receiving touchdowns. 

He was inducted into the Tennessee Tech Hall of Fame in 2024. Penix Sr. holds the school record for rushing yards in a game with 261yards against Southeast Missouri in 1993. He also holds the school record for the longest run from scrimmage, with his 92-yard touchdown run against Murray State in 1994. 

Penix Sr. didn't graduate from Tennessee Tech. He entered coaching, but eventually earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 2010 and later an associate's degree in arts from Pasco-Hernando State College. Penix Sr. worked as a career counselor and supervisor at AMIkids, which helps troubled kids. 

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Michael Penix Jr. mom: Takisha Penix

Like her husband, Takisha went to Tennessee Tech. She was also a college athlete, with her sport of choice being track. She graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems in 1999. Takisha went on to get her Master's in Project Management from Drexel, but that was in 2016. She works as a Senior Manufacturing Engineer at Lockheed Martin. 

She and her husband have been together for 24 years. 

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Michael Penix Jr. brother: Mekhi Penix

Michael is the oldest of the three Penix brothers. His middle brother Mekhi is in college. He spent his freshman season in 2023 playing for Tennessee Tech but didn't see any action and redshirted. Mekhi doesn't have any stats at Tennessee Tech from the 2024 season. His Twitter bio mentions MGCC which is Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He announced his transfer with three years of eligibility left. 

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Michel Penix Jr. brother: Mishon Penix 

Michael's youngest brother is Mishon, who was entering high school in the fall of 2025. While his eldest brother was a quarterback, and his middle brother a wide receiver, Mishon plays defense. 

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Where is Michael Penix Jr. from?

Penix was born in Cookesville, Tennessee. He didn't stick around the area long as he moved to and was raised in Dade City, Florida. Penix went to Tampa Bay Technical High School and developed into a three-star prospect out of high school. He committed to Indiana and spent four years with the Hoosiers. Penix transferred to Washington in 2022, using extra eligibility from injuries and COVID to play two seasons with the Huskies. The lefty was then selected eighth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Falcons. 

Teddy Ricketson

Teddy Ricketson is a Digital Content Producer at The Sporting News. He joined the team in 2024 after spending the last three years writing for Vox Media as part of its DK Nation/Network team. Teddy does his best to support the South Carolina Gamecocks and Carolina Panthers, but tends to have more fun cheering on the Atlanta Braves. In his free time, he loves spending time with his wife, Brooke, and their two dogs, Bo and Hootie.