Kirk Cousins Breaks His Silence
Kirk Cousins joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 after Washington was unwilling to pay the man. He was expensive for the Vikings, but he also played decent football throughout his tenure in the North. Ultimately, however, he departed with only one playoff win.
Kirk Cousins Breaks His Silence
Cousins decided to leave the club after six seasons to sign with the Atlanta Falcons, a team that was viewed as one of those “a QB away” squads. One year later, it has become evident that Cousins was not that QB. The Falcons already turned to rookie Michael Penix Jr. in Cousins’ first season in Atlanta.
Netflix released its new documentary on Tuesday, called Quarterback 2. The first season also featured Cousins back in 2022. He was once again included next to debutantes Jared Goff and Joe Burrow. A camera crew followed the three veteran passers in the 2024 campaign, and Minnesota’s ex-signal-caller shared some thoughts about his decision to make the move from Minnesota to Atlanta, a move he obviously regrets.
“It felt like I had been a little bit misled, or certainly if I had had the information around free agency, it would have affected my decision,” Cousins said on Netflix.
We’ve heard rumors that the Vikings told Cousins they would draft a quarterback in 2024, but the Falcons didn’t reveal those thoughts. At the end of the day, Penix Jr. joined Cousins in the QB room with the 8th overall pick, and the Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy 10th.
“I had no reason to leave Minnesota, with how much we loved it there, if both teams are going to be drafting a quarterback high. But I’ve also learned in 12 years in this league that you’re not entitled to anything. It’s all about being able to earn your spot and prove yourself.”
Cousins signed a four-year deal worth $180 million—a strange deal handed out by the Falcons. They must’ve thought about drafting a quarterback before making such a commitment.
Cousins continued, “The information I had at the time, I made the best decision. You also know that if you sit down Week 10 and take two or three weeks or more to let it heal, you may never get your job back. I remember reading Drew Brees’ book back in 2010 when he first wrote it, how he made the point that he tried to never let his backup see the field, even if it was somebody who was really no threat. He just felt like you should never do that.”
Earlier this offseason, Cousins disclosed that he suffered a shoulder injury during last season, but continued to play. His performance was a disaster following that presumed injury, and he was ultimately benched for Penix Jr.
“Doug Flutie taught him that. So that was something I always was aware of, that in this league, if you give someone else the chance, if you want to get ‘Wally Pipped’ and there’s Lou Gehrig behind you, that can happen at the time.”
Cousins started 14 games for the Falcons, including a rough loss at U.S. Bank Stadium against an explosive Vikings offense with Sam Darnold tossing five touchdowns to Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson. He finished the season with 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
After a solid first half of the season, his play imploded later in the year.
ESPN’s Marc Raimondi added about the dynamic between the Falcons and the four-time Pro Bowler: “Cousins was aware the Falcons might draft a quarterback, but definitely not that high. He wasn’t informed about the Penix pick until a phone call by offensive coordinator Zac Robinson while Atlanta was on the clock.”
“The Falcons did eventually bench Cousins in Week 16. Penix took over and played solidly, though the team went 1-2 in those games and missed the playoffs. Most around the league expected the Falcons to release Cousins this offseason, but it didn’t happen.”
This offseason, Cousins wanted out, but the Falcons preferred to keep him around. He is still under contract for three more seasons and has guaranteed money on his deal into 2026.
“The Falcons picked up his $10 million bonus in March and he remains on the roster heading into training camp. The thinking internally is that Cousins is worth more to the team as Penix’s backup than playing for someone else, especially since the Falcons are on the hook for $27.5 million of his salary this season either way,” Raimondi continued.
Regardless, the Falcons might still be waiting for someone to call. The Vikings were long rumored to be interested, but stuck with McCarthy and acquired Sam Howell.
“Atlanta would surely listen to trade offers if they’re out there, with the hope that a team is willing to take on a chunk of that guaranteed money.”
The Cleveland Browns still seem like a potential option if none of their numerous quarterbacks look like an NFL starter early on, and the history with Kevin Stefanski is noteworthy.
Cousins regrets his decision, and the Falcons regret handing him the contract. That chapter has been a total disaster for everyone involved, but the Vikings and the situation could’ve been avoided by more honesty.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.