Kirk Cousins Explains Why He Left Vikings for Falcons in NFL Free Agency

The quarterback signed a four-year contract with Atlanta on Monday.

After six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, quarterback Kirk Cousins felt like this offseason was the right time to move on.

When asked how the four-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons came about, Cousins admitted that he was intrigued by the opportunity to have a long-term deal to finish out his NFL career. 

“In Minnesota, it was trending over the last couple offseasons to be somewhat more year-to-year,” Cousins said in his introductory press conference Wednesday. “As we talked with Atlanta, it felt like this is a place where if I play at the level I expect to play, that I can retire a Falcon.

“That was something that really excited me; that’s certainly the goal. You’ve got to earn the right to do that, but that was exciting to feel like I could get that opportunity here.”

Cousins will turn 36 in August, meaning he will be 39 years old in his final season with the Falcons. Cousins is currently set to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2027 campaign.