- - - Kirk Cousins Says He Felt ‘Misled’ by Atlanta Falcons for Signing Him Before Drafting Michael Penix Jr.

Sean NeumannJuly 8, 2025 at 2:30 AM

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Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins speaks candidly in a new interview about the Atlanta Falcons' decision to draft a quarterback weeks after signing him as a free agent, saying he felt "misled" by the team

Cousins makes the new comments in the latest season of Netflix's Quarterback series

Season 2 of Quarterback begins streaming Tuesday, July 8 on Netflix

Kirk Cousins is opening up about the Atlanta Falcons’ decision to draft quarterback Michael Penix Jr. soon after signing him to a large, four-year contract last season.

Cousins, 36, joined the Falcons in March 2024 on a four-year, $180 million contract after playing the previous six NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He expected to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for several seasons, but just weeks later, the Falcons drafted Penix Jr., 25, with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

After Cousins struggled to gel with his new team’s offense during the first half of the season, Penix Jr. fully took over as the team’s starting quarterback in mid-December.

The 13-year NFL veteran candidly opens up about the situation in the upcoming season of Netflix’s Quarterback series, which begins streaming July 8.

In the season’s first episode, titled “New Beginnings,” Cousins and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff both speak with producers about what it’s like for a quarterback to join a new team and move to a new city.

Cousins, who began his career in Washington before moving on to Minnesota and later joining Atlanta, told Netflix that he felt “misled” by the Falcons’ front office for not disclosing their plans to draft Penix Jr.

At the time, Cousins says he and his family were happy in Minnesota and had the opportunity to sign a short-term contract with the team. The only reason Cousins left the Vikings, he says, was because the team was planning to select a young quarterback in the draft. (Minnesota selected quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick, two spots after the Falcons selected Penix Jr.)

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Kirk Cousins

Cousins says in the new Netflix series that he “wasn’t expecting” Atlanta to also select “a quarterback so high” in the draft and insinuated he would’ve stayed with the Vikings had he known.

“At the time, it felt like I had been a little bit misled,” Cousins says. “Or certainly, if I had the information around free agency, it certainly would’ve affected my decision. I had no reason to leave Minnesota with how much we loved it there, if both teams are going to be drafting a quarterback high. But I’ve also learned in 12 years in this league that you’re not entitled to anything. It’s all about being able to earn your spot and prove yourself.”

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Throughout the newest season of Netflix’s Quarterback series, cameras follow Cousins as he struggles to adjust to the Falcons’ offense scheme, while his own family struggles to adjust to living in a new city. In one emotional scene later in the season, Cousins and his wife Julie Hampton Cousins question how to talk to their two young sons, Cooper and Turner, about the move after one of the kids asks their mother, “When are we getting our house back?,” during a trip back to Minnesota.Speaking specifically about football, Cousins admits during the first episode that his move to Atlanta had made him feel like he was “starting over” as a quarterback despite 13 seasons in the league.

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Kirk Cousins

Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Cousins remains on the Falcons as rumors continue to swirl about the team trading him away and going with Penix Jr. as their starting quarterback full time.

Season two of Quarterback is now streaming on Netflix.

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Source: AOL Sports