INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Atlanta Falcons are preparing to part ways with quarterback Kirk Cousins on the first day of the new league on March 11, according to general manager Ian Cunningham.
Speaking with 92.9 The Game Tuesday morning, Cunningham said he spoke with Cousins and his representation, and the decision was made “out of respect” to both Cousins and Michael Penix Jr., too.
Cousins signed with Atlanta in March 2024 after six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, where he was named to the Pro Bowl three times. At the time, Cousins was coming off a season-ending Achilles injury that cut his 2023 season short.
The Falcons needed stability at the quarterback position, which was something Cousins had provided as the starting quarterback for both the Washington and Minnesota franchises. Cousins was to be the starter in Atlanta for the 2024 season.
A month later, the Falcons drafted Penix No. 8 overall with the intention of having Cousins be the starter for a couple years, allowing Penix to work behind him as the backup quarterback in Atlanta.
The 2024 season got off to a hot start for the Falcons and Cousins. He led the team to a staple win in Philadelphia on Monday Night Football in Week 2. Then, on the night Matt Ryan was inducted into the Falcons Ring of Honor, Cousins threw for 509 yards in the team’s Week 5 overtime win vs. the Buccaneers. Cousins broke Ryan’s previous franchise record of most passing yards accumulated in a single game.
Thereafter, though, things changed.
In the weeks that followed, Cousins failed to record a touchdown pass in four consecutive games, which was a career-first for the veteran quarterback. He threw a career-high four interceptions in the team’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Despite a win against the Las Vegas Raiders that snapped Atlanta’s losing streak, Raheem Morris announced in the days that followed that the organization would move forward with Penix as the starter for the final games of the season.
The 2024 season ended with Cousins connecting on 66.9% of his passes thrown for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
Cousins’ future in Atlanta was a hot topic as the 2025 offseason ensued. Early on, Falcons leadership expressed the organization was comfortable moving forward with Cousins as Penix’s backup.
Speaking to media when reporting for mandatory minicamp in June, Cousins said he understands his role as Penix’s backup.
“Michael is going to do great,” Cousins said. “He’s going to have a great career. He’s off to a great start. He’s got all the tangibles and intangibles you need to be successful.
“I’m just here to support him as he needs it. But I also don’t need to be in his ear so much that I’m sort of another weight, another voice. I just want to be a support as I can, and he knows that.”
Cousins reiterated — as he did during the season when the decision was made to start Penix — that he believes he “can be a starter in this league.”
The 2025 season began with Penix, but ended with Cousins as Penix suffered a season-ending knee injury at the halfway point of the season. Cousins started the final games for Atlanta, leading the team on a four-game win streak to end the season.
Cousins completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions through eight games started and 10 games played.
Earlier this offseason, the Falcons and Cousins reached an agreement to restructure his contract. According to reports, the adjustment did not impact any guaranteed money already owed to Cousins, but it did reduce his 2026 base salary from $35 million to $2.1 million. His 2027 compensation then games that $32.9-million difference, creating a $67.9 million vesting guarantee for the 2026 seasons that would lock in March 13, the third day of the 2026 NFL league year.
Speaking with Front Office Sports on Radio Row at the Super Bowl a couple weeks ago, Cousins discussed his future.
“I’ll keep an open mind,” he said. “I want to play. I feel really rejuvenated. I think it was great to be able to have a great run down the stretch with the Falcons. Even though we didn’t make the playoffs, we were able to win the last four games. (I) really have a joy playing, enjoyed the guys, and so want to get back out there and be able to get back at it again.”
Cousins will officially hit the free agency market at the start of the league year, while the Falcons hit the ground running in search of quarterbacks to fill the room around Penix in 2026.
