The Atlanta Falcons find themselves navigating a quarterback conundrum as they charge into the 2025 NFL season. The buzz surrounds Michael Penix Jr., who appears primed to take the starting reins, despite the presence of veteran Kirk Cousins on the roster. The Falcons’ apparent decision to retain Cousins without entertaining trade options has led to a brewing tension that’s hard to ignore.
The drama unfolded on the latest season of Netflix’s series, “Quarterback,” which premiered this past Tuesday. Cousins candidly expressed feelings of being “a little bit misled” by the Falcons when they opted for Penix in the 2024 NFL Draft. His words resonate with any athlete who’s faced unexpected career turns. Cousins mentioned, “Certainly, if I had the information around free agency, it certainly would’ve affected my decision.” Reflecting on his time with the Minnesota Vikings, he noted his deep ties to the area, adding, “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.”
These revelations illuminate why Cousins lobbed a trade request earlier this offseason—a move now steeped in context as we witness the rapid unraveling of his relationship with the Falcons.
Beyond the quarterback controversy, Cousins shared insights regarding an arm injury that plagued him during Week 10 of the 2024 season against the Raiders. After taking a hard hit from Payton Turner, Cousins experienced immediate discomfort, escalating into persistent shoulder pain. Despite this, he pushed through another four weeks of play, driven by the quintessential fear of losing his starting job to a freshly drafted rookie like Penix. “The information I had at the time, I made the best decision,” Cousins explained.
Reflecting on the competitive nature of the league, Cousins referenced NFL legends, such as Drew Brees and Doug Flutie, in emphasizing the peril of allowing backups a shot at the starting spot. He highlighted a lesson from Brees’ book about avoiding scenarios where even seemingly benign backups get onto the field. “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,” he concluded.
The unfolding story adds layers to the intrigue surrounding Cousins’ next steps as training camp looms. His response and decisions in the face of this challenge will be a narrative to follow, as the Falcons’ quarterback dynamics continue to capture the attention of NFL fans and pundits alike.
