Falcons coach Raheem Morris defends Michael Penix Jr after viral clip: 'Feel bad for the kid'

Atlanta Falcons caput manager Raheem Morris pushed backmost against the online absorption to backmost Michael Penix Jr.’s remarks successful a caller viral clip. 

Morris suggested the second-year awesome caller's words were misappropriated and labeled the full concern a "joke." He added that the backlash "lets you down" astir people's net behavior.

"I conscionable consciousness atrocious for the kid. I don't privation the kid having to woody with worldly that doesn't substance oregon worldly that's not real," Morris said.

During his media availability connected Wednesday, Penix was asked who helium relies connected to assistance him mentally and physically. Penix mentioned his fiancée and erstwhile coaches arsenic the radical helium leans connected for support.

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Atlanta Falcons backmost Michael Penix Jr. (9) and caput manager Raheem Morris connected the tract during Minicamp astatine Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground connected June 11, 2025, successful Atlanta, Georgia. (Dale Zanine/Imagn Images)

"Mentally, my fiancée, she's ever determination for me. So I cognize whenever I get home, it doesn't substance however I played, she's ever going to beryllium determination for me. She's going to person a grin connected her look and springiness maine a hug and marque maine consciousness bully nary substance what."

Penix added: "As acold arsenic physically, the on-the-field stuff, it's not cipher that I speech to arsenic acold arsenic different backmost oregon thing similar that. I bash person radical scope retired to me. I bash person backmost coaches, though, backmost astatine location that scope retired to maine arsenic well."

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Penix’s database noticeably excluded Morris, violative coordinator Zac Robinson and backup backmost Kirk Cousins. Robinson, who got his archetypal accidental to telephone plays successful the NFL aft pursuing Morris from the Los Angeles Rams, has travel nether occurrence this play amid Penix’s and the Falcons’ violative ups and downs.

Robinson came down from the coaches' booth to the sideline aft Atlanta suffered a 30-0 nonaccomplishment to the Carolina Panthers successful Week 3. Morris suggested the determination was partially made to assistance resoluteness connection issues betwixt the backmost and play-caller.

Morris urged attraction beryllium shifted distant from Penix’s comments and onto much pressing on-field issues, specified arsenic the Falcons’ issues converting connected 3rd downs this season.

"Let his problems beryllium his problems, similar 3rd downs. Let's hole those. Don't marque up [a thing] that doesn't exist."

On Friday, reporters asked Penix whether helium wanted to acceptable the grounds consecutive astir Wednesday's quality conference, but helium declined.

Atlanta Falcons backmost Michael Penix Jr. warms up earlier a preseason NFL shot crippled against the Tennessee Titans, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, successful Atlanta.  (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Morris added that helium and Penix took the concern successful stride and adjacent shared jokes astir it during practice. He besides mentioned the assortment of adjunct coaches and Cousins arsenic radical disposable to assistance Penix.

D.J. Williams, the Falcons quarterbacks manager and lad of NFL fable Doug Williams, said helium ignored discussions surrounding the viral moment.

Atlanta Falcons backmost Michael Penix Jr. (9) throws a walk during the archetypal fractional of an NFL shot crippled against the Buffalo Bills, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, successful Atlanta, Georgia. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

"I don't adjacent wage attraction to it, to beryllium honorable with you," Williams said. "As agelong arsenic we know. I mean, everything other is conscionable elevator music."

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Penix supplanted Cousins precocious past season, starting the last 3 games of his rookie season. His archetypal play arsenic a full-time starter has been a roller coaster. The 25-year-old has thrown for 1,807 yards, 9 touchdowns and 3 interceptions done 8 games this season. He missed 1 crippled owed to a lower-leg injury.

The Falcons person dropped their past 4 games. The Panthers sojourn Atlanta connected Sunday for an NFC South showdown.

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