From inking a $180 million contract in free agency to being benched in favor of the rookie Michael Penix Jr. in his first season, the Kirk Cousins saga with the Falcons has been a rollercoaster.
The veteran always took everything in stride, even when the club shocked the NFL world by drafting his successor. He responded in the exact manner that has come to be expected of Cousins — graciously.
When the season began, his debut was rough. The Steelers’ stingy defense stifled the Falcons’ offense, and Cousins looked every bit of a 36-year-old coming off an Achilles injury, but he turned it around and led the Falcons to a come-from-behind win over the Eagles in primetime the following week.
Over the next seven weeks, Kirk Cousins would lead the team to a 6-3 record and have several noteworthy performances, including against the Buccaneers, in which he broke Matt Ryan’s franchise record for most yards in a game.
It looked like Atlanta’s gamble to pay Cousins and draft Penix was working out. Then, an injury in Week 10 against the Saints completely derailed the Falcons’ season. Cousins and the offense’s wheels spun for the next five weeks.
Including the contest in New Orleans, Cousins would go five games and only throw a single touchdown while throwing nine interceptions. It led to a 1-4 record and effectively dashed the Falcons’ hopes of a playoff berth.
Eventually, Cousins was benched in favor of Penix, but it proved too little too late for the rookie, who was held back by Kyle Pitts, Raheem Morris, his defense, and a lackluster kicking game.
Entering the offseason, it was clear that the Falcons would try to move off Cousins, but that proved to be unfruitful to the displeasure of many fans. The veteran went from the beloved Kirktober to the liar, evil genius who convinced the team he wasn’t injured and thwarted a postseason push.
It’s amazing the concoctions that some fans cooked up about Kirk Cousins, with some questioning whether he would continue to be this supposed divisive character in the locker room when, in fact, he’s never been anything but a good teammate, which has carried over to 2025 despite being a backup quarterback.
Cousins told reporters that his goal is to help the Falcons lift the Lombardi Trophy in February, regardless of how they get there.
Kirk Cousins on his preference to be a starter elsewhere: Certainly there were conversations… But that’s an offseason question and we’re moving forward now.
Also said his and the #Falcons’ goal is the same: to be lifting a Lombardi trophy in February, however they get there. pic.twitter.com/3nrDzpLYHB
— Kelly Price (@thekellyprice) June 10, 2025
Obviously, Cousins tried to gut through an injury and didn’t want to lose his starting job; it failed, and it rubbed Falcons fans the wrong way, but it’s not his fault. Raheem Morris, the coaching staff, the training staff, and every person in Flowery Branch with eyes could see he was hampered by an injury.
Choosing to roll with Cousins was Morris’ decision, not Cousins’ decision. But Cousins’ role in 2025 is clear, and nobody should expect him to be anything other than a valuable resource to Michael Penix Jr. 2024 is in the past. The future is now, and the future is the southpaw wearing #9.
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Photographer: Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire
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