Malik Willis completed 21 of 32 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns on November 1, 2026, in the Miami Dolphins’ 24–19 loss to the New England Patriots. The 27-year-old quarterback, who joined Miami on a three-year, $67.5 million deal in March 2026, has taken over as the Dolphins’ starter in 2026 after backing up in Tennessee and Green Bay, and his performance against New England kept Miami in the game until the final minutes.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Malik Antonio Willis |
| Born | May 25, 1999 |
| Age | 27 years old |
| Birthplace | College Park, Georgia, USA |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 219 lb (99 kg) |
| Position | Quarterback |
| Current Team | Miami Dolphins |
| NFL Debut | 2022 |
| Draft | 2022, 3rd round, 86th overall (Tennessee Titans) |
Who Is Malik Willis?
Malik Willis, whose full name is Malik Antonio Willis, is an American professional football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. Drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft, Willis rebuilt his career at Liberty University after leaving Auburn, then spent two seasons as a backup in Green Bay before signing a three-year, $67.5 million deal with Miami on March 12, 2026.
Willis is known for his strong arm and his dual-threat ability as a runner. He has worn the initials “TGFE,” short for “Thank God for Everything,” as a personal motto throughout his career.
Early Life & Background
Malik Antonio Willis was born on May 25, 1999, in College Park, Georgia. He attended Westlake High School in Atlanta before transferring to Roswell High School for his senior year, when he passed for 2,562 yards and rushed for 1,033 yards with 37 total touchdowns. His uncle is former NFL linebacker James Anderson.
Willis began his college career at Auburn, where he played in 2017 and 2018. He transferred to Liberty in 2019, where he became one of the best quarterbacks in program history and won the 2020 Dudley Award, given to the top Division I player in Virginia, and the 2021 Bobby Bowden Award for faith, family, academics and athletics.
Career & Journey
Willis was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round, 86th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft. He made three starts as a rookie in 2022 and served as a backup in Tennessee before being traded to the Green Bay Packers in 2024, where he started two games in 2024 and one in 2025 and impressed in relief duty.
On March 12, 2026, Willis signed a three-year, $67.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins, where he won the starting job for 2026. Through Week 8 of the 2026 season, Willis had started seven games, completing 108 of 183 passes for 1,268 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions, and rushing for 225 yards and three touchdowns.
Willis’s Week 8 outing against New England, on November 1, 2026, was one of his best as a Dolphin: 21 completions on 32 attempts for 211 yards and two touchdowns, in a 24–19 loss to the Patriots that dropped Miami to 1–6 with him as a starter. Despite the record, Willis’s arm and mobility have made him one of the most talked-about quarterbacks of the 2026 season.
Facts About Malik Willis
- Willis won the 2020 Dudley Award as the top Division I player in Virginia.
- He won the 2021 Bobby Bowden Award for faith, family, academics and athletics.
- Willis was the most valuable player of both the 2020 Cure Bowl and the 2021 LendingTree Bowl.
- He signed a three-year, $67.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins on March 12, 2026.
- Willis’s personal motto, “TGFE,” stands for “Thank God for Everything.”
How old is Malik Willis?
Malik Willis is 27 years old. He was born on May 25, 1999, in College Park, Georgia.
Which team does Malik Willis play for?
Malik Willis plays quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, who signed him to a three-year, $67.5 million deal in March 2026.
What did Malik Willis do against the New England Patriots?
On November 1, 2026, Malik Willis completed 21 of 32 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns in Miami’s 24-19 loss to New England.
Where did Malik Willis go to college?
Malik Willis played at Auburn and Liberty, where he won the Dudley Award in 2020 and the Bobby Bowden Award in 2021.
When was Malik Willis drafted?
Malik Willis was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round, 86th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft.
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