Falcons make decision on Kirk Cousins two years after signing him to $180 million contract
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Kirk Cousins’ time with the Atlanta Falcons is almost over.
General manager Ian Cunningham told reporters Tuesday that the team will release the veteran quarterback once the new league year officially begins next month.
Cunningham said he had already informed Cousins of the team’s decision.
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Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons warms up for the Buccaneers game at Raymond James Stadium on December 11, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
“I just felt like it was out of respect for Kirk. What he’s done in his career, I owed it to him. We owed it to him to allow him some clarity going into free agency,” Cunningham said at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday.
Cousins headed to the Falcons two years ago after the Minnesota Vikings decided it was time to move on, drafting JJ McCarthy and signing Sam Darnold. Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins passes against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Dale Zanine/Image Images)
However, the marriage already soured when, about a month after hiring Cousins, the Falcons were the biggest surprises of that year’s NFL Draft, selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick.
Cousins struggled in his first season, leading the team to move to Penix earlier than expected. Penix was then the starter this year, while Cousins was the backup.
Penix was injured this season with a partially torn ACL, leaving Cousins to play in 10 games, starting eight of them. In his 24 games under center with the Falcons, Cousins threw 28 touchdowns and 21 interceptions with a 65.0 completion percentage for 5,229 yards.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins walks off the field after the Minnesota Vikings game on Dec. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
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Perhaps, though, the Falcons aren’t worried about Penix’s knee, even though this is the third time he’s suffered such an injury.
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