Malik Willis Bio
Malik Antonio Willis is an American professional football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). Born on May 25, 1999, Willis played college football for the Auburn Tigers and the Liberty Flames, earning the 2020 Dudley Award as the top college player in Virginia during his time with the Flames. Selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft, he joined the Packers in 2024 and has since developed into a reliable backup with starting experience.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing around 225 pounds, Willis is known for his dual-threat ability as a passer and runner. He continues to build his professional résumé while serving as a key reserve behind starter Jordan Love in Green Bay.
Early Life and Background
Malik Antonio Willis was born on May 25, 1999, in College Park, Georgia. He grew up in the Atlanta metropolitan area and attended Westlake High School in Atlanta before transferring to Roswell High School in Roswell, Georgia, for his senior year. The move allowed him to finish his high school career in a program that better suited his development as a quarterback.
During his senior season at Roswell, Willis put together one of the most productive years of any high school quarterback in the region. He passed for 2,562 yards and rushed for 1,033 yards, accounting for 37 total touchdowns. Rated as a three-star recruit, Willis committed to Auburn University to play college football, choosing the SEC program over several other scholarship offers.
Beyond athletics, Willis was raised in a Christian household and continues to practice his faith publicly. Most of his social media posts end with the phrase “TGFE,” an abbreviation for “Thank God for Everything,” a habit that has become a small personal trademark among his followers.
Path to American Football
Willis joined Auburn in 2017 and spent two seasons with the Tigers, appearing in 15 games while competing for playing time in a crowded quarterback room. During his time at Auburn, he completed 11 of 14 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown and added 309 rushing yards with two scores. The experience gave him a foundation at the highest level of college football, even though he was not yet a full-time starter.
Following a quarterback competition at Auburn that included Bo Nix, Willis transferred to Liberty University in 2019. He sat out that season due to NCAA transfer rules, then was named the Flames’ starting quarterback in 2020. In a memorable performance against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, he threw for six touchdowns and added a rushing score, announcing himself as one of the most dynamic players in college football.
Willis’ play at Liberty earned him two major individual honors. He received the 2020 Dudley Award as the best college football player in Virginia, and he was later given the 2021 Bobby Bowden Award, which recognizes the top college football player who also represents the qualities of a Christian student-athlete. He was also named Most Valuable Player of the 2020 Cure Bowl and the 2021 LendingTree Bowl, capping a productive college career.
Malik Willis Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Willis was selected in the third round, 86th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans. Many analysts viewed his slide to the third round as a surprise, given that some pre-draft projections had him going as high as second overall. He signed his four-year rookie contract on July 23, 2022, and headed to Nashville with the goal of developing into a long-term NFL starter.
His rookie season offered glimpses of his athletic potential along with the growing pains typical of a young quarterback. Willis made his NFL debut in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills, entering in the third quarter after the Titans benched Ryan Tannehill. He later earned starts against the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs, including a Week 8 victory over Houston and a Sunday Night Football appearance at Arrowhead Stadium. He started again in Week 16 against the Texans, finishing with 99 passing yards, two interceptions, 43 rushing yards, and a touchdown.
Tennessee Titans Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Willis’ first NFL start came in Week 8 of the 2022 season against the Houston Texans, when he stepped in for an ill Ryan Tannehill. He completed 6 of 10 passes for 55 yards and an interception during a 17–10 road victory, giving the Titans a glimpse of his dual-threat skill set. The following week, on Sunday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs, he completed 5 of 16 passes for 80 yards and added 40 rushing yards in a 20–17 overtime loss.
His most complete statistical showing as a rookie came in Week 16 against the Texans, when he started in place of an injured Tannehill. Willis completed 14 of 23 passes for 99 yards and two interceptions while also rushing for 43 yards and a touchdown in a 19–14 loss. Those starts helped him build a foundation, even as Tennessee continued to rely primarily on Tannehill.
Green Bay Packers Era (2024–Present)
On August 26, 2024, the Tennessee Titans traded Willis to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. The move gave him a fresh start in a quarterback room led by Jordan Love and a chance to learn behind an offensive coaching staff known for developing young passers.
Willis was quickly pressed into action. After Jordan Love suffered an MCL sprain in the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, Willis was named the starter for Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts. He delivered, completing 12 of 14 passes for 122 yards and his first NFL touchdown while rushing for 41 yards in a 16–10 victory. The following week, facing his former team in Tennessee, he completed 13 of 19 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown and led the team in rushing with 73 yards and a score during a 30–14 road win.
With Love healthy again, Willis returned to a reserve role but remained ready. In Week 8 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he led a game-winning drive after Love left with a groin injury in the second half. He re-entered in Week 11 against the New York Giants, taking over on the Giants’ 40-yard line and capping a six-play drive with a touchdown pass during a 27–20 road win. In Week 16 against the Chicago Bears, Willis came in after Love suffered a concussion and finished 9 of 11 for 121 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 44 yards in a 22–16 overtime loss.
Driving Style and Strengths
Willis is best known as a dual-threat quarterback who can hurt defenses with both his arm and his legs. His mobility allows him to extend plays and pick up chunk rushing yards on designed runs, while his arm strength enables him to push the ball down the field when given time. Working within Green Bay’s offensive system has helped him sharpen his pre-snap reads and improve his efficiency as a passer.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most memorable moments, Willis’ first NFL touchdown pass against the Indianapolis Colts in 2024 stands out as a turning point in his professional career. His strong performance against his former team in Tennessee the following week, along with his clutch relief appearance against the Jacksonville Jaguars, reinforced his value as a reliable backup with starter-level talent.
Malik Willis Career Wins
Across his NFL career, Malik Willis has been part of multiple team victories through both starting and relief appearances. His wins include a road victory over the Houston Texans in 2022 with Tennessee, a home win over the Indianapolis Colts in 2024 with Green Bay, a road win against the Tennessee Titans later that season, a comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, and a road win against the New York Giants.
NFL Highlights
Willis’ first NFL start resulted in a 17–10 road win over the Houston Texans in 2022, a milestone that signaled his readiness for professional football. His most recent confirmed win came in Week 11 of the 2024 season, when he led a game-sealing touchdown drive against the New York Giants in a 27–20 victory.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his NFL appearances, Willis earned two bowl game MVP honors during his time at Liberty, including the 2020 Cure Bowl and the 2021 LendingTree Bowl. Those performances helped establish him as one of the most exciting college quarterbacks in the country.
Malik Willis Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Willis comes from a family with a clear connection to professional football. His uncle, James Anderson, played linebacker in the NFL for ten seasons, giving Willis an early window into the demands and rewards of the sport. That family background helped shape his path toward a football career.
Personal Life
Willis is not publicly known to be married and does not have publicly confirmed children. He continues to be active on social media, where he is known for signing off with the phrase “TGFE,” short for “Thank God for Everything,” reflecting his Christian faith.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Malik Willis remains with the Green Bay Packers and continues to serve as the primary backup to Jordan Love. His strong 2024 relief outings, including efficient passing performances against the Colts, Titans, Jaguars, Giants, and Bears, have positioned him as a trusted option should injuries arise again.
If Love stays healthy, Willis’ role will likely center on preparation, practice reps, and short stints when called upon. His experience leading fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives suggests that the Packers have a backup capable of sustaining the offense if needed.
For Willis personally, 2025 represents a chance to continue refining his mechanics, deepen his chemistry with the coaching staff, and remain ready for whatever opportunity comes. A healthy and productive season could further establish him as one of the more reliable reserve quarterbacks in the league.