Kirk Cousins Wants to Retire WIth Atlanta Falcons, Avoid 'Shaquille O'Neal Situation'

Kirk Cousins wants the Atlanta Falcons to be the final stop of his NFL career.

Oct 23, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes / Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Kirk Cousins has been with the Atlanta Falcons for less than a month, but he already seems to be in love with the team and the area.

Cousins, 35, has already stated that he'd like to retire in Atlanta, and he only seems more commited to that idea as time goes on. Speaking with Shaquille O'Neal on "The Big Podcast With Shaq," Cousins reaffirmed his desire to retire with the Falcons and avoid a late-career journey that the NBA legend went on.

Oct 23, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes / Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

"I want this to be my final stop," Cousins said. "I don't want to do the deal -- no offense -- but I don't want to go play for the Suns and Celtics at the end. I want to go finish with the Heat, if you will, and be done, you know? So, that's really my plan is that I wouldn't play for another team -- I'd finish with the Falcons.

O'Neal is one of the greatest players in NBA history, and he dominated for 16 seasons with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat. At the end of his career, O'Neal spent one season each with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics, and during that time, his decline was on full display.

For Cousins, who spent six seasons each with the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders, ending his career on a high note is a priority. He'll face several challenges with his new team, including his recovery from a torn Achilles he suffered in October, but when all's said and done, he wants to be remembered as a Falcon first and foremost.

"My boys are 6 and 5, they won't remember that I played in Washington, they will barely remember I played for Minnesota, they're going to remember I played for the Falcons, and I want those to be good memories. So, I feel like this is the stretch I want to finish strong. People remember how you finish more than how you started. So, the start was good, but I want to finish really strong here in Atlanta and have my boys say yeah, 'he may have played for Washington or Minnesota, but we remember him as a Falcon' I want fans to say the same thing."