Kirk Cousins is an American football quarterback. He is famous for currently playing for the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL. He kickstarted his football career at Michigan State and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, initially serving as a backup to fellow rookie Robert Griffin III. During his tenure with the Redskins, he established numerous franchise records and earned a spot in the 2017 Pro Bowl. Following two years of signing franchise tags and failing to reach a long-term agreement with the team, Cousins made a high-profile move to the Minnesota Vikings in 2018, inking a fully guaranteed three-year deal worth US$84 million as a free agent. Recently, Vikings won third straight but lost QB Kirk Cousins to season-ending Achilles tear.
Kirk Cousins, an NFL quarterback has gained widespread recognition as a prominent figure on the Minnesota Vikings' roster. He played college football at Michigan State and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft as a backup to fellow rookie Robert Griffin III. During his time with the Redskins, he earned the nickname "Captain Kirk". Later, he signed a fully guaranteed three-year US$84 million contract with the Vikings as a free agent in 2018.
Kirk Cousins, born on August 19, 1988, hails from Barrington, Illinois, USA. Kirk Daniel Cousins is his full name. He is the second oldest among his siblings, with Don Cousins and Maryann Cousins as his parents. His siblings are Kyle Cousins and Karalyne Cousins. He holds American nationality and comes from an American-White ethnic background. Cousins excelled in multiple sports during his time at Holland Christian High School in Holland, Michigan, where he participated in football, baseball, and basketball.
After overcoming an ankle injury in his junior year, he caught the attention of college recruiters. He ultimately chose to play football for Michigan State under the coaching of Mark Dantonio, redshirting his first season. Subsequently, he earned the starting quarterback role and had a successful college career, leading the Spartans to several notable achievements. He graduated with a major in kinesiology.
Kirk Cousins' NFL journey began in 2012 when he was selected by the Washington Redskins as the 102nd draft pick overall. His drafting surprised many, considering the Redskins had also picked Robert Griffin III as their franchise quarterback in the same draft. On May 31, 2012, Cousins signed a four-year contract with the Redskins. He made his NFL debut during the 2012 season after Griffin suffered an injury, showing promise with his first NFL touchdown pass to Santana Moss. Cousins had significant moments during his rookie year, culminating in a start against the Cleveland Browns, where he rallied the team to a 38-21 victory.
In the following years, he alternated between backup and starter roles, but by 2015, Cousins became the starting quarterback for the Washington Redskins. He had an impressive season, setting records and leading the team to a playoff appearance. Cousins earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2016 and continued to perform well, passing for nearly 5,000 yards. The 2017 season marked his third consecutive year with over 4,000 passing yards, although the Redskins missed the playoffs that year.
In 2018, Kirk made a significant move, signing a fully guaranteed three-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings worth $84 million, which was the first of its kind in NFL history at that time. His debut season with the Vikings showed promise, including a strong start with notable games against the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers. However, the team's inconsistency and a coaching shakeup impacted their season. Cousins' first year with the Vikings concluded with impressive stats, including 4,298 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
In 2019, he led the Vikings to their first playoff win, securing his second Pro Bowl selection. In the 2020 season, he signed a contract extension and achieved career-high statistics with 4,265 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. Cousins continued to excel in the 2021 season, earning his third Pro Bowl selection. In 2022, he secured another contract extension and helped the Vikings clinch the NFC North title. He finished the 2022 season with 4,547 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, earning his fourth Pro Bowl selection. Despite his strong performance, the Vikings were eliminated in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
Throughout the 2022 NFL season, Cousins was periodically featured both on and off the field as part of a documentary series titled "Quarterback," a collaboration between Netflix and NFL Films. The series made its debut on Netflix on July 12, 2023. In the match against the Green Bay Packers on October 29, 2023, Cousins experienced a devastating torn Achilles injury in the fourth quarter, bringing his season to an abrupt end. The Vikings secured their third consecutive win against the Packers on Sunday, but they faced a significant setback as their quarterback, Kirk Cousins, is believed to have sustained a potentially season-ending Achilles tear.
NFL records
NFL records
Most game-winning drives in a single season: 8 (tied with Matthew Stafford)
Most fourth-quarter comebacks in a single season: 8 (tied with Matthew Stafford)
Largest comeback (33 point deficit)
Vikings franchise records
Most pass completions in a regular season: 425
Most consecutive games with a passing touchdown: 39
Most consecutive pass attempts without an interception: 224
Most consecutive pass completions to start a game: 17
Washington Commanders franchise records
Most 300-yard passing games in a season: 7 (2015, 2016)
Most 300-yard passing games in career: 23
Most pass completions in a regular season: 406
Most pass attempts in a regular season: 606
Most consecutive passes without an interception at home: 232
Most 400-yard passing games in career: 3
Most 4,000-yard passing seasons: 3
Most consecutive 4,000-yard passing seasons: 3
Most passing yards in a season: 4,917
Kirk Cousins, the accomplished NFL quarterback, has an estimated net worth of $70 million as of 2023. His NFL career journey began when he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft before making the move to the Minnesota Vikings in 2018. Notably, on March 15, 2018, Cousins secured a fully guaranteed three-year contract with the Vikings, a deal worth $84 million. His financial prowess continued to shine as he inked a one-year, $35 million fully guaranteed contract extension through the 2023 season on March 13, 2022, reaffirming his status as one of the NFL's highest-paid quarterbacks. In 2023, Cousins stands to earn a base salary of $10,000,000 alongside a restructure bonus of $20,000,000, with a corresponding cap hit of $20,250,000 and a dead cap value of $48,750,000.
Beyond his NFL earnings, Cousins has further bolstered his wealth through lucrative endorsement deals with renowned brands like Bose and Nike. He has also ventured into the world of commercials, teaming up with former Washington teammates Josh Norman and Ryan Kerrigan in ads for Easterns Automotive, a D.C.-based used car dealership. Cousins' primary source of wealth remains his illustrious football career, affording him a lavish lifestyle. In 2018, he listed his Ashburn, Virginia home for sale at $515,000, featuring three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a half-bath. Notably, in 2019, it was reported that Cousins was constructing a new residence near Michigan Lake, which will encompass five bedrooms and two fireplaces.
Kirk Cousins is a married man. He tied a knot to his long-time girlfriend turned wife, Julie Hampton, on June 28, 2014. Their wedding took place in Atlanta, Georgia, the USA. The couple is blessed with two sons, Cooper Wesley born in 2017, and Turner Moses born in early 2019. The family is leading a happy family without any disturbances.
Kirk Cousins is a cool NFL footballer, boasting a tall and well-proportioned height of 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters) and a weight of 205 pounds (93 kilograms). His distinctive pale green eyes and light brown hair complement his athletic body type, and he exudes charm with an attractive personality that's accentuated by his captivating smile.
Kirk Cousins was a three-sport star in high school
Kirk Cousins, a standout athlete at Holland Christian High School, excelled in three different sports during his high school years. In addition to his prowess on the football field, he showcased his talents as both a third baseman and a pitcher for the school's baseball team, while also contributing to the basketball team's success as a key player for the Holland Christian High School Maroons.
Kirk Cousins' NFL journey began when he was unexpectedly selected in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. This pick came as a surprise, given that the Redskins had also chosen Robert Griffin III as their franchise quarterback in the same draft. However, Cousins quickly made a name for himself, and his career took off from there, ultimately leading him to become a highly-regarded quarterback in the league.
In 2015, Kirk Cousins and his brother, Kyle Cousins, took a notable step by applying to trademark the phrase "You like that!" – a phrase closely associated with Kirk, often used to taunt opponents following successful performances. Their trademark application aimed to protect a range of goods and services, spanning bumper stickers, t-shirts, hoodies, and electronic billboard advertisements. Notably, the Cousins brothers had already been selling "You like that!" merchandise to support charitable causes before pursuing the trademark.
Kirk Cousins is not just a remarkable NFL player, but also a remarkably talented singer. From his early days, his passion for music and singing was evident, as he actively participated in choirs throughout his education. In high school, he was even a member of the Living Hope Singer group. Now, as a professional NFL player, he continues to astonish fans with his impressive vocal skills, often showcasing his renditions of popular songs on his podcast. Whether belting out Whitney Houston or Blink 182 hits, Kirk Cousins effortlessly demonstrates his multifaceted talents, proving that not many NFL players can sing as impressively as he can.