The Atlanta Falcons are expected to release quarterback Kirk Cousins at the start of the new NFL league year on March 11, according to general manager Ian Cunningham. Cunningham told 92.9 The Game that he spoke with Cousins and his representatives, and the decision was made “out of respect” for Cousins.
Cousins joined the Falcons in March 2024 after six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, where he was selected to the Pro Bowl three times. He arrived in Atlanta following a season-ending Achilles injury in 2023.
Cousins provided stability at quarterback for both Washington and Minnesota before being named starter for Atlanta’s 2024 season. Shortly after signing Cousins, the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall, planning for Cousins to start while Penix developed as backup.
The team began the 2024 season strongly under Cousins’ leadership, including a notable win against Philadelphia on Monday Night Football in Week 2. In Week 5, during Matt Ryan’s Ring of Honor induction, Cousins set a franchise record by throwing for 509 yards in an overtime victory over Tampa Bay.
However, performance declined as Cousins went four consecutive games without a touchdown pass—a first in his career—and threw four interceptions against the Los Angeles Chargers. After breaking a losing streak with a win over Las Vegas, head coach Raheem Morris announced Penix would take over as starter for the remainder of the season.
Cousins finished the 2024 season completing nearly 67% of his passes for 3,508 yards with 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
As speculation about his future continued into the offseason, team officials initially indicated comfort with keeping Cousins as Penix’s backup. Reporting to minicamp in June, Cousins said: “Michael is going to do great,” adding: “He’s going to have a great career. He’s off to a great start. He’s got all the tangibles and intangibles you need to be successful.”
He also stated: “I’m just here to support him as he needs it. But I also don’t need to be in his ear so much that I’m sort of another weight, another voice. I just want to be a support as I can, and he knows that.” During both minicamp and earlier points in the season when Penix became starter, Cousins reiterated that he believes he “can be a starter in this league.”
Penix started at quarterback for Atlanta at the beginning of the 2025 season but suffered a knee injury midway through. Cousins returned as starter and led Atlanta on a four-game winning streak to close out their campaign.
In those final eight starts (ten games played), Cousins completed more than sixty-one percent of his passes for 1,721 yards with ten touchdowns and five interceptions.
Earlier this offseason, Atlanta restructured Cousins’ contract—reducing his base salary from $35 million to $2.1 million for 2026—while leaving guaranteed money unchanged but creating significant vesting guarantees if he remained on roster past March 13.
Discussing his outlook recently with Front Office Sports during Super Bowl week radio interviews, Cousins said: “I’ll keep an open mind…I want to play. I feel really rejuvenated…Even though we didn’t make the playoffs, we were able to win the last four games…(I) really have a joy playing, enjoyed the guys, and so want to get back out there and be able to get back at it again.”
With this move expected at league year’s start date next month, Cousins will become an unrestricted free agent while Atlanta looks for quarterbacks behind Penix heading into next season.
The Falcons compete in the NFL’s NFC South division and are based in Atlanta, Georgia.
