Malik Willis

Malik Antonio Willis ( ; born May 25, 1999) is an American professional football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers and Liberty Flames, winning the 2020 Dudley Award with the latter. Willis was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft and was traded to the Green Bay Packers in 2024.

Early life Willis attended Westlake High School in Atlanta before transferring to Roswell High School in Roswell, Georgia, for his senior year. As a senior, Willis passed for 2,562 yards and rushed for 1,033 yards with 37 total touchdowns. A three star recruit, he committed to Auburn University to play college football.

College career Auburn Willis spent 2017 and 2018 at Auburn and played in 15 games. During the two years, he completed 11 of 14 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 309 yards and two touchdowns.

Liberty Willis transferred to Liberty University in 2019 following a quarterback competition at Auburn with Bo Nix and sat out the season due to transfer rules.

In 2020, Willis was named the team's starting quarterback. Against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, he threw for six touchdowns and rushed for another. Willis was named the winner of the 2020 Dudley Award, given to the best college football player in the state of Virginia, and was the recipient of the 2021 Bobby Bowden Award, awarded to the best college football player who epitomizes being a Christian student-athlete. He was named MVP of the 2020 Cure Bowl and the 2021 LendingTree Bowl.

Professional career

Tennessee Titans 2022 season Willis was selected in the third round (86th overall) of the 2022 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans. He was considered a surprise fall in the draft as he was projected by some to be selected as high as second overall. Willis signed his four-year rookie contract on July 23, 2022.

Willis made his NFL debut in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills in the third quarter after the Titans benched Ryan Tannehill. He completed one of four passes for six yards and rushed for 16 yards during the 41–7 road loss. Willis was named the starter for the Week 8 matchup against the Houston Texans, relieving Tannehill due to illness. In his first start, Willis completed 6 of 10 pass attempts for 55 yards and an interception during the 17–10 road victory. Willis started in place of an injured Tannehill the following week against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. He completed 5-of-16 passes for 80 yards to go along with 40 rushing yards in the 20–17 overtime road loss. During Week 16 against the Texans, Willis again started in place of Tannehill, who had aggravated an ankle injury. Willis finished the 19–14 loss completing 14-of-23 passes for 99 yards and two interceptions, as well as rushing for 43 yards and a touchdown.

2023 season Willis only attempted five passes in 2023.

Green Bay Packers 2024 season

On August 26, 2024, Willis was traded to the Green Bay Packers for a seventh-round pick (No. 239) in the 2025 NFL draft.

After Jordan Love suffered an MCL sprain in the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, Willis was named the starter for the Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. In his first start of the season, Willis completed 12-of-14 passes for 122 yards and his first NFL touchdown while also rushing for 41 yards in the 16–10 victory. In the next game against his former Titans, Willis completed 13-of-19 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown and led the team in rushing with 73 yards and a touchdown during the 30–14 road victory. With Love healthy, Willis did not appear again until Week 8 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, leading the Packers to a game-winning drive after Love left with a groin injury in the second half.

2025 season Willis did not make an appearance until the Week 11 27–20 road victory against the New York Giants. Taking over for an injured Jordan Love, Willis entered the game with the ball on the Giants' 40-yard line and capped a six-play drive with a touchdown pass before Love returned for the next series. During Week 16 against the Chicago Bears, Willis entered the game after Love suffered a concussion in the second quarter. Willis finished the 22–16 overtime road loss completing 9-of-11 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 44 yards. He had his first start of the season during Week 17 at home against the Baltimore Ravens while Love was still out on concussion protocol. Willis completed 18-of-21 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 60 yards and 2 touchdowns, and finished the game with a 134.6 passer rating.

Miami Dolphins On March 12, 2026, Willis signed with the Miami Dolphins on a three-year, $67.5 million deal.

Career statistics Legend Bold Career high

NFL Year Team Games Passing Rushing Sacked Fumbles 2022 TEN 8 3 1–2 31 61 50.8 276 4.5 48 0 3 42.8 27 123 4.6 17 1 10 49 3 2 2023 TEN 3 0 — 4 5 80.0 74 14.8 48 0 0 118.8 5 21 4.2 11 0 4 30 1 1 2024 GB 7 2 2–0 40 54 74.1 550 10.2 51 3 0 124.8 20 138 6.9 29 1 8 37 1 1 2025 GB 4 1 0–1 30 35 85.7 422 12.1 40 3 0 145.5 22 123 5.6 22 2 3 15 2 0 Career 22 6 3–3 105 155 67.7 1,322 8.5 51 6 3 98.9 74 405 5.5 29 4 25 131 7 4Source: pro-football-reference.com

College

Personal life Willis' uncle is former NFL linebacker James Anderson.

Willis was raised as and remains a Christian. Most of his social media posts conclude with "TGFE," which is short for "Thank God for Everything."