"Should be recruiting": CFB world draws wild assumptions to Kalen DeBoer attending Michael Penix Jr's NFL game

Michael Penix Jr. had a special guest at the Atlanta Falcons' season finale against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday – Kalen DeBoer. The college football community was quick to make assumptions about Alabama’s coach attending the rookie quarterback’s NFL game.

DeBoer shares a rich history with Penix, having coached him during his stints as Indiana’s offensive coordinator and Washington’s head coach. The connection deepened when the Atlanta Falcons selected Penix with the No. 8 overall pick in April's NFL Draft, highlighting his remarkable collegiate career.

DeBoer wasn’t alone in Atlanta — he was joined by Nick Sheridan, another former mentor of Penix. Their presence at the game fueled fan theories, with one commenting:

“Should be recruiting.”

“With no collared shirt,” another wrote.

“If the Falcons lose we now know why….,” one wrote.

“DeBoer has to learn from Saban: If you’re in public, be wearing something with a script A,” another wrote.

“DeBoer need to take a flight from Atlanta to Seattle right after the game and beg Grubb to be his OC. Leave Sheridan a*s in Atlanta,” one wrote.

“Looks like the guy I want coaching TEs next year beside him too,” another wrote.

The sight of DeBoer and Sheridan watching Penix take on Bryce Young only added to the buzz, as fans speculated about the reasons behind their visit.

Michael Penix Jr’s reactions to seeing his former college coaches

Kalen DeBoer and Nick Sheridan were at Sunday’s 44-38 overtime loss. Both coaches guided Michael Penix Jr. during his time at Indiana and Washington and attended the game with their families and friends.

Speaking in the postgame press conference, Penix expressed deep gratitude:

“(Nick) Sheridan is the first person I was with before at Indiana. He’s the one who recruited me since I was like a sophomore in high school,” Penix said [H/t The Falcons Wire]. “And then he ended up with me at Washington as well.”

“So, both of those guys being able to (be) here and bringing their family, their spouses, it was amazing to be able to see them and know that they cared enough to make time out of their day to come see me play,” Penix added.

Penix had an impressive performance, completing 21 of 38 passes for 312 yards, throwing three touchdowns (including one rushing TD), and one interception.