Football

New QB Kirk Cousins introduced with Atlanta Falcons 'as God's plan would have it'

By Kevin Mercer Mar 14, 2024
New Falcons QB Kirk Cousins at his introductory conference, March 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Quarterback Kirk Cousins was officially introduced at a press conference on Wednesday as the newest member of the Atlanta Falcons. The 35-year-old is thrilled about the possibilities of what his team can accomplish in 2024 and beyond.

“As we talked with Atlanta, it felt like this was a place where, if I play at the level I expect to play, that I can retire a Falcon,” Cousins said during the press conference. “And that was something that really excited me, and that’s certainly the goal and you gotta earn the right to do that.”

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The former fourth-round pick out of Michigan State spent his first six NFL seasons in Washington (2012-17) and his next six in Minnesota (2018-23), and has proven himself as one of the most productive quarterbacks in the NFL. Cousins has racked up 3,568 completions, 40,518 passing yards and 275 touchdowns during his career, appearing in the playoffs and earning Pro Bowl honors four times each.

Cousins now joins the Falcons and first-year head coach Raheem Morris in seeking to help bring a franchise that hasn’t recorded a winning season since 2017-18 back to the playoffs. His contract is for four years and $180 million, with $100 million guaranteed.

Even before signing with the Falcons, Atlanta was a special place for Cousins and his family. His wife, Julie, is from Alpharetta, Georgia (an Atlanta suburb), and her parents still live in the area. Kirk and Julie were married near Atlanta in 2014, and their two sons, Cooper and Turner (who was born in Atlanta), will now be closer to their grandparents.

For Cousins, coming to Atlanta has always made a lot of sense.

“The opportunity hadn’t presented itself previously,” Cousins said in the press conference about signing with the Falcons now. “If it had, I’m sure we would have been very seriously looking to.”

Yet it was ultimately not the opportunity for personal and team success, the money or even the family connections that led him to Atlanta.

“As God’s plan would have it,” he continued, “this is the time that it aligned, and we’re thrilled that it did.”

Cousins has been one of the most outspoken and unashamed followers of Christ throughout his lengthy career. He’s been a guest numerous times on the Sports Spectrum Podcast, has been featured in Sports Spectrum Magazine, publicly shared his testimony of faith, and even delivered a Gospel presentation at the Super Bowl Breakfast in 2020.

He was also honored at that same Super Bowl Breakfast in 2023, which intersects football and faith, and he has been heavily involved in supporting the child-development ministry Compassion International. He knows it’s God, not himself, who is directing his career and who is worthy of all glory.

 

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Cousins said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in March 2023 that, starting at Michigan State, his family would pray the Bible verses Ephesians 3:20-21 over his career. The verses say, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

He said on the podcast, “I look back now with a sample size that’s much larger with the number of years we’ve been playing, and you can see the times that that prayer has been answered.”

It’s a prayer that was answered last fall as well, although not in the way Cousins may have expected. Attempting to elude pass rushers on Oct. 29 against the Green Bay Packers, he tore his right Achilles and missed the remainder of the season.

In his first public comments after the injury and subsequent surgery, Cousins made clear that he was trusting all the more in his Heavenly Father.

“I’m excited to write the next chapter and see what God wants to do with it, whatever it may be,” he said. “I’ve just kind of been reminded again that my career, it’s not my career. It’s His career that I steward, and I’ve just gotta surrender myself and let Him lead where He wants to go.”

Cousins knows the Lord has established his steps and led him to Atlanta. Whatever happens in this next chapter, it will be for God’s glory and his good.

“The Bible makes it very clear that the best decision you will ever make, far beyond where to throw a football, is the decision of who will be the Master of your life,” Cousins said at the 2020 Super Bowl Breakfast. “Will you allow Jesus Christ to become Lord of your life, and have control of your life? And will you serve Him?”

>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<

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– SS PODCAST: Vikings QB Kirk Cousins on his 2022 season, repping Christ
– Kirk Cousins honored at 2023 Super Bowl Breakfast, intersecting faith & football
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