Inside The Vikings

As He Begins Year 12, Kirk Cousins is Still Looking to Prove Himself

At age 35, in his ninth year as an NFL starter, Cousins is still playing for his job.

Will Ragatz

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Kirk Cousins is 35 years old. He's entering his ninth year as a full-time starting quarterback in the NFL, with 141 starts already under his belt. After this season, he will have made over $230 million playing professional football.

And yet, in some ways, he still feels like he did as a freshman at Michigan State, when he was competing with Nick Foles to be Brian Hoyer's backup. 

Cousins is a free agent after this season. His future is uncertain. With the 2023 season set to begin on Sunday, he's still looking to prove himself like he has throughout his entire football career.

"I think that’s been my whole life in this league," Cousins said on Wednesday. "And I view that in training camp, too. When I go out there, I view it like, ‘I’m only as good as my last pass, my last practice,’ so it’s sort of been life for me. And I’d even go back to college, in quarterback competitions with Nick Foles. It basically felt like you’re going out there every day and putting your job on the line. And that’s quarterbacking."

Cousins admitted he felt pretty comfortable with his job security during his high school career at Holland Christian in Michigan. But even then, he was trying to make it to the next level. And then the next level. Dating back to high school, he's always had the mindset of looking to show he belongs with every pass he throws.

After earning the starting job at Michigan State as a sophomore, Cousins was drafted by Washington in the fourth round to be Robert Griffin III's backup. He kept grinding, and in his fourth season, he became the starter. Then came two franchise tags in Washington, which kept him without much future security. That led to a three-year deal with the Vikings and two subsequent short-term extensions. All along, he has constantly treated every day as an opportunity to earn that next start.

"For the past 16 years, this being my 17th, that’s kind of the life you live," Cousins said.
"I think when you take that seriously, it lends itself to having success more days than not. I’ve also believed, going back to when I was recruited in high school, I was asked a similar question: 'It’s your senior year, every pass could be a referendum on whether or not you’re going to get a college scholarship.' I’d say, 'If we win football games, everything else will take care of itself.' Let’s just focus on what we need to do to win, and it really won’t be much else to think or be concerned about."

Cousins wouldn't have it any other way. Even as an established top-15 starting quarterback in the NFL, he doesn't want to be handed anything. He wants to earn his spot like everyone else.

"I remember when a quarterback was drafted high in New England and Tom (Brady) was the starter," Cousins said. "And Tom made the point, 'There is no entitlement in the NFL, and if there is entitlement in the NFL, that organization is probably doing it wrong.' So I think it’s healthy when players need to go out every day and nobody’s entitled to anything. I think that’s a healthy way to run an organization. It’s gonna bring out the best in all of us. If it ever isn’t that way here, I would be the first one to complain and say, ‘Hey, I sense some entitlement, so let’s change that.'"

Starting on Sunday, Cousins has 17 games — and maybe another crack at the playoffs — to earn a future in the NFL as a starter, whether that's in Minnesota or elsewhere. His career will be extended for as long as he's playing well and winning games.

For Cousins, that's nothing new.

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Will Ragatz
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