Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins made a strong first impression in his debut as an analyst for ESPN during the Chiefs’ Divisional Round win over the Texans on Saturday.
His performance off the field went over well with many on social media, including colleague Pat McAfee, who wrote on X that Cousins “is gonna be PHENOMENAL on television.”
Cousins’ venture into broadcasting comes at a pivotal time in his career, as his future with the Falcons remains uncertain following a tumultuous 2024 season.
The four-time Pro Bowler was signed to a four-year, $180 million contract — including $100 million guaranteed — with Atlanta last offseason after tearing his Achilles with the Vikings in 2023.
He was brought in to stabilize the Falcons’ offense and elevate the team to playoff contention.
However, his season was inconsistent, marked by 3,508 pᴀssing yards, 18 touchdowns and a career-high 16 interceptions in 14 games.
And it looked, at times, far worse than the numbers would suggest.
The Falcons eventually benched Cousins in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr., who showed some promise in his three starts and gave the team a glimpse into the future.
Penix Jr.’s placement on the team was already somewhat controversial given that Atlanta drafted him at No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft despite having just signed Cousins to the megadeal.
The team missed the playoffs, sparking questions about Cousins’ role moving forward.
While Cousins carries a hefty cap number, he’s expected to be cut before a $10 million bonus hits, which is due on March 17, ESPN reported last month.
Falcons GM Terry Fontenot, though, said on Jan. 9 that the team would be “comfortable” with Cousins as its backup in 2025, perhaps in hope of luring an interested team into a trade.
