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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The rumor that Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins could return for a second stint with the Minnesota Vikings has emerged in the last few days. On Feb. 7, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini got the entire rumor mill started with her reporting on the matter.
“I’m watching to see if the Falcons find any parties interested in [Cousins],” Russini wrote in her article. “Speaking of those Vikings, one league source speculated that Cousins could be an option there, given his history with Kevin O’Connell and Minnesota’s desire to bring in competition for young J.J. McCarthy.”
With the Falcons looking like they will cut Cousins, the question surrounding the veteran is where he will land. Nonetheless, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the QB could be cut, but might not be done playing in Atlanta.
“A big challenge, which is why a guy like Kirk Cousins has to like his potential possibility of being a free agent,“ Garafolo said on the Feb. 13 edition of “The Insiders.“ “And that’s what happened when these sides readjusted his contract.
“It helped the Atlanta Falcons with salary cap space and also gave Cousins the knowledge that he would be free no later than the third day of the league year in March, and every other team knows that as well. Now I’ve said it, and I’ll continue to say it: I don’t rule out the possibility of Cousins returning to Atlanta.”
Does Kevin Stefanski Want to Keep Kirk Cousins?
Moreover, Garafolo explained why there’s a possibility of Cousins returning to Atlanta on a less expensive contract.
“Kevin Stefanski was with the Cleveland Browns when the Browns made a push to potentially trade for Cousins last year, but it became clear the Falcons were intent on holding on to him unless they were absolutely blown away,“ Garafolo added. “So Stefanski, now the head coach with the Falcons, doesn’t have to trade for him and has him there.
“They’d have to work out a new contract as it stands, but with Michael Penix coming back from another ACL surgery and Cousins playing good, winning football down the stretch, a return to Atlanta is potentially possible.”
Cousins posted a passer rating of 84.8 with 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 10 games during the 2025 season, per StatMuse.
NFL Insider Shares Where Vikings Stand With Kirk Cousins
On Feb. 9, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter shared more details about the future for Cousins, who is expected to be released by Atlanta.
“Kirk Cousins is expected to be released, “ Schefter said on the Feb. 9 edition of the “Pat McAfee Show. “ “[The Falcons] restructured his contract with the idea that he will be released. He’ll be released before the new league year begins. I think he’d like to play, but he’s going to consider all his options. That could include TV, that could include retirement, whatever it is that he wants to do, he’ll have the option to do it. But the Falcons will release him before the start of the new league year, so that’ll be an option for him.
“You bring up Minnesota. Well, Minnesota is always going to bring in a quarterback. Obviously, they have to do that anyway. The question is, who’s that going to be? I asked Kirk about Minnesota last week, and I didn’t get a no, but I didn’t get a yes. It’s possible, but there are a lot of things out there that are possible with him.”
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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