Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix is having an offseason he will never forget after marrying his girlfriend Olivia Carter last weekend.
Penix, who has been engaged to Carter since 2024, was joined by several stars from the Falcons team for his big day, including Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts.
The happy couple shared an array of pictures from their wedding on social media on Friday, coincidentally Penix's 26th birthday, with Olivia paying a heartfelt tribute to her husband.
'From the moment we have met you have been so easy to love,' she wrote alongside a picture of the pair together. 'You are the kindest, most thoughtful and the most hilarious man I know. Thank you for letting me love you and thank you for being the amazing person you are. I hope this new age brings you everything you've ever dreamed of and more.'
In a different post, she added: 'So happy to be able to celebrate you today as your wife!!!'
For Penix, his dreams for the age of 26 might well include winning his fight to remain as the No. 1 quarterback for the Falcons going into the 2026 season. His 2025 campaign was curtailed by a torn ACL, and he is battling to be healthy for Week 1 at the beginning of September. Video from his wedding showed him dancing away with his new wife, a positive sign for his recovery.
However, he faces stiff competition to remain as the Falcons starter after new head coach Kevin Stefanski brought in Tua Tagovailoa in the offseason. Tagovailoa is also fighting to kickstart his own career after being released by the Miami Dolphins, two years into a four-year, $112 million contract. Before signing that deal, Tagovailoa was one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the league. On a one-year deal in Atlanta worth $1.3 million, Stefanski clearly likes the chances of returning him to that level.
But Tagovailoa was benched by then-Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel after throwing a career-high 15 interceptions in 14 games last season. If Penix, the No. 8 pick in 2024, is unable to be ready for Week 1, then it would seem that the job is Tagovailoa's to lose.
Attention on the 2026 season will intensify next week with the schedule set to drop on Thursday. In the meantime, Penix can enjoy his birthday and life as a newlywed.
His wife, meanwhile, also has a background in sports. She played soccer at the University of Nevada. But she is a native of Washington and met Penix while he was there playing football.
