Who Is Michael Penix Jr.’s Fiancée? Getting to Know Atlanta Falcons Quarterback’s Love, Olivia Carter

Michael Penix Jr.’s fiancée, Olivia Carter, has been a steadfast presence throughout his ascent in the NFL.

The University of Washington alumnus entered the league in April 2024, signing a rookie contract with the Atlanta Falcons. By December, he had earned the position of starting quarterback for the remainder of the season — a role he continues to hold into the 2025–2026 campaign. Through both milestones, Carter has remained by his side, offering unwavering support both publicly and privately.

Though the precise start of their relationship remains unknown, the couple’s first public posts together appeared on social media in November 2023. The following month, Penix Jr. celebrated Carter’s birthday with a heartfelt Instagram Story, calling her his “ride or die.”

“I appreciate you for always being there for me through the ups and downs and always keeping a smile on my face even in hard times,” he wrote. “I’m blessed to be apart [sic] of your life and to be in the presence of your beauty inside and out.”

Their engagement was announced on December 29, 2024, through a joint Instagram post featuring photos of Penix Jr.’s proposal.

She Is from Washington

According to her Instagram bio, Carter resides in Seattle, a short distance from her hometown of Kent, Washington, as noted in the official University of Nevada women’s soccer roster.

She is the daughter of Christopher and Regina Carter and grew up alongside her two brothers, Quincy and Theo. As reported by Kent Reporter, she attended Renton High School before transferring to Kent-Meridian High School during her sophomore year.

Coming from an athletic household, Carter once remarked, “We all do sports. We all have to do something.” Her mother was a standout track athlete, inspiring Carter to follow in her footsteps. Her father, a former basketball player, was equally supportive — attending nearly all her track meets.

Her brother Quincy later joined Central Washington University as a running back.

She Graduated from the University of Nevada

In May 2022, Carter announced via Instagram that she had graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, earning a bachelor’s degree in biology.

Initially committed to Portland State University, she later accepted a soccer scholarship at Nevada. “When I visited there, the coaches were great, the campus was beautiful and Reno was nice,” she told Kent Reporter in February 2018. “I feel I can prosper there and reach my goals.”

Carter also expressed an ambition to become an anesthesiologist.

She Was a Student Athlete

Carter began playing soccer at the age of four, describing athletics as central to her identity. “Athletics is just my life. That is all I do,” she told Kent Reporter in 2017. “I play soccer. I’m always training. I just love to be a runner.”

At the University of Nevada, she competed as both a defender and forward for the women’s soccer team. In an October 2021 video on the team’s Instagram, she recalled her favorite moment as “winning against UNLV last year at senior night.”

After graduation, she planned to travel and spend time with her family before applying to medical school.

They Confirmed Their Relationship in Late 2023

The timeline of their first meeting is unclear, but by November 2023, Penix Jr. and Carter had begun sharing posts about each other. Carter uploaded a photo of them at a University of Washington football game captioned, “LOVE U,” which Penix Jr. reposted with the reply, “I love you.”

Since then, the couple have shared glimpses of their travels, including Jamaica in May 2024 and Hawaii in July 2024.

She Was with Penix Jr. During His NFL Draft and Starting Quarterback Announcement

Carter was present when Penix Jr. received the call confirming his NFL draft selection by the Atlanta Falcons in April 2024, as the 8th overall pick in the first round. Surrounded by family and friends in his Tampa home, she sat beside him during the pivotal moment.

Later that December, Penix Jr. learned he would be the team’s starting quarterback for the rest of the season. Recalling the moment at a press conference, he 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. I was actually getting a hot dog, and whenever I got the call I wasn’t hungry no more.”

In May 2024, Penix Jr. posted a carousel of photos from the draft celebration and their time together, writing, “I forever want you next to me.”

Penix Jr. Is Her “Best Friend”

In a May 2024 Instagram tribute celebrating Penix Jr.’s birthday, Carter wrote, “Celebrating you is easy and loving you is even easier.”

“Thank you so much for being you. Thank you for loving me the way you do,” she added. “Being with you feels unreal. You make me feel on top of the world every single day.”

She continued, “Michael you are my best friend and the man I’ve always prayed for. I thank god he brought us together. The best chapter of my life started the day you walked into it and I am so blessed to have a boyfriend like you.”

They Got Engaged in December 2024

Carter and Penix Jr. announced their engagement through a joint Instagram post in December 2024, showcasing the romantic proposal adorned with red roses and large illuminated letters spelling “MARRY ME.”

The post was captioned, “the sweetest love Olivia and Michael 12.24.2024.”

In a separate video post, Penix Jr. revealed the setup — candles being lit before he knelt to propose. He captioned it, “I will love you forever  I can’t wait to do life with you.”

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