Malik Willis Bio
Malik Antonio Willis is an American professional football quarterback who currently plays in the National Football League. After a college career split between Auburn University and Liberty University, he was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Following stints with the Titans and the Green Bay Packers, he signed a major deal with the Miami Dolphins in 2026 and is listed as wearing jersey number 2 on their active roster.
Early Life and Background
Malik Antonio Willis was born on May 25, 1999, in College Park, Georgia, in the United States. He grew up in the greater Atlanta area and attended Westlake High School in Atlanta before transferring to Roswell High School in Roswell, Georgia, for his senior year. That senior season established him as a versatile dual-threat quarterback, as he passed for 2,562 yards and rushed for 1,033 yards while accounting for 37 total touchdowns.
Coming out of high school, Willis was rated as a three-star recruit and committed to Auburn University to play college football. His physical profile is listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 219 pounds, a compact frame that has not prevented him from developing into a productive runner and passer at the professional level.
Path to American Football
Willis spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons at Auburn, where he played in 15 games across his two years on campus. During that time, he completed 11 of 14 passes for 69 yards and one touchdown, and added 309 rushing yards with two more scores, offering an early glimpse of the mobility that would later define his game.
Following a quarterback competition at Auburn that involved Bo Nix, Willis transferred to Liberty University in 2019. He sat out that season under standard transfer rules, then took over as Liberty’s starting quarterback in 2020. Against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles that year, he threw for six touchdowns and rushed for another in a single game, performances that helped him earn the 2020 Dudley Award as the best college football player in the state of Virginia. He was also named MVP of the 2020 Cure Bowl and the 2021 LendingTree Bowl, and received the 2021 Bobby Bowden Award, which honors the top college football player who embodies being a Christian student-athlete.
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, a pick that was widely viewed as a surprise given that some analysts had projected him as high as second overall. He signed his four-year rookie contract on July 23, 2022, and made his NFL debut in Week 2 of that season against the Buffalo Bills after the Titans benched Ryan Tannehill. In that appearance, he completed 1 of 4 passes for 6 yards and added 16 rushing yards during a 41–7 road loss.
Over his first two seasons, Willis saw limited action. He drew his first NFL start in Week 8 of 2022 against the Houston Texans, completing 6 of 10 passes for 55 yards and an interception in a 17–10 road victory, and later started against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football and again against Houston in Week 16. In 2023, Willis attempted just five passes as he remained a developmental piece behind the Titans’ veteran quarterbacks.
Tennessee Titans Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Willis’ tenure with the Titans was a trial-by-fire introduction to the NFL, defined by spot starts in place of Ryan Tannehill. His most extended early stretch came during the middle of the 2022 season, when he was asked to step in for an ailing and later injured Tannehill. He showed flashes with his legs, most notably rushing for 43 yards and a touchdown against the Texans in Week 16, but he also encountered the growing pains typical of a young quarterback, finishing that game 14 of 23 for 99 yards with two interceptions in a 19–14 loss.
The 2023 season offered little additional opportunity, as Willis attempted only five passes all year. By the end of his time in Tennessee, the Titans had decided to move on, and on August 26, 2024, Willis was traded to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a seventh-round pick, No. 239 overall, in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Green Bay Packers Era (2024–2025)
Willis arrived in Green Bay and quickly became a key part of the team’s plans after starting quarterback Jordan Love suffered an MCL sprain in the 2024 season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Named the starter for Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts, Willis completed 12 of 14 passes for 122 yards and his first career NFL touchdown, while also rushing for 41 yards in a 16–10 victory. The following week against his former Titans teammates, he was even sharper, going 13 of 19 for 202 yards and a touchdown and leading the team in rushing with 73 yards and another score in a 30–14 road win.
As Love returned to health, Willis shifted back into a relief role. He stepped in again during the Week 8 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and led a game-winning drive after Love exited with a groin injury in the second half. He resurfaced in Week 11 against the New York Giants, taking over for an injured Love and capping a six-play drive with a touchdown pass, and later relieved a concussed Love in Week 16 against the Chicago Bears, completing 9 of 11 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 44 yards. His most dramatic start of the season came in Week 17 at home against the Baltimore Ravens while Love remained in concussion protocol. Willis went 18 of 21 for 288 yards and a touchdown, rushed for 60 yards and two more scores, and posted a 134.6 passer rating in a signature performance.
Driving Style and Strengths
Willis is best known for his dual-threat skill set, combining a strong arm with the ability to extend plays and pick up chunk yardage on the ground. He has shown particular poise when stepping in on short notice, demonstrating the accuracy and decision-making that made him a top collegiate talent. In Green Bay, he built a productive partnership with the coaching staff and operated efficiently in relief, leaning on both his legs and his intermediate passing game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most memorable career moments is his Week 17, 2024 start against the Baltimore Ravens, where his 134.6 passer rating and three total touchdowns marked the high point of his early NFL résumé. His first career NFL touchdown came in his first start for the Packers in Week 2 of 2024 against the Colts, while his first start as a Titan against the Houston Texans in 2022 gave him his first victory as a professional starter.
Malik Willis Career Wins
Although Willis has not yet been a full-season starting quarterback, he has piled up several notable victories as a spot starter and reliever, particularly during the 2024 campaign with the Green Bay Packers.
NFL Highlights
Willis earned his first NFL victory as a starter in Week 8 of the 2022 season, a 17–10 road win over the Houston Texans while filling in for Ryan Tannehill. After arriving in Green Bay, he added a 16–10 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 of 2024, a 30–14 road win over the Tennessee Titans the following week, and a Week 8 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars capped by a game-winning drive. His 2024 relief appearance against the New York Giants in Week 11 also produced a win, and his Week 17 start against the Baltimore Ravens gave him another signature Packers victory.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Willis was a two-time bowl MVP, taking home honors from the 2020 Cure Bowl and the 2021 LendingTree Bowl with Liberty, and he won both the 2020 Dudley Award and the 2021 Bobby Bowden Award. His combined NFL passing statistics through the 2025 season include 105 completions on 155 attempts for 1,322 yards, 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, a 67.7% completion rate and a 98.9 passer rating, along with 405 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns.
Malik Willis Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Willis comes from a family with professional football roots. His uncle is former NFL linebacker James Anderson, who played in the league and helped inspire Willis’ interest in the sport.
Personal Life
Willis was raised as a Christian and has continued to be open about his faith. Most of his social media posts conclude with the abbreviation “TGFE,” which stands for “Thank God for Everything,” a personal signature that has become a small but recognizable part of his public identity.
2025 Season Performance
Willis’ 2025 season with the Green Bay Packers was defined by a continued role as the primary backup to Jordan Love, punctuated by clutch relief performances. When Love went down with injuries, Willis repeatedly stepped in and delivered, including a 30–14 road win over his former Titans teammates in Week 3, a game-winning drive against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8, and a near-flawless Week 17 start against the Baltimore Ravens in which he posted a 134.6 passer rating with three total touchdowns.
Across the 2025 season, Willis remained highly efficient in limited duty, finishing the year with 105 completions on 155 attempts for 1,322 yards, 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, good for a 67.7% completion rate and a 98.9 passer rating. He also added 405 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns, reinforcing his value as a dual-threat change-of-pace option behind a healthy Love.
His 2025 play helped position him for a major new chapter, as on March 12, 2026, Willis signed a three-year, $67.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins. He is listed on the Dolphins’ active roster wearing number 2, and he is expected to compete for a larger offensive role in Miami as he enters the prime of his career.
