Vikings owners thank 'ultimate competitor' Kirk Cousins as he leaves for Falcons
Kirk Cousins is officially an Atlanta Falcons after six years in Minnesota, signing a four-year, $180 million deal Wednesday.
Recognizing the time Kirk spent in Minnesota, Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf released a statement Wednesday paying tribute not only to Cousins' efforts on the field, but also the wider contributions made by Cousins and his wife, Julie.
"For the past six year, Kirk and Julie Cousins built a legacy as members of the Minnesota Vikings and the Twin Cities community. From the moment Kirk signed with the Vikings in 2018, it became clear no one would be more dedicated to perfecting his craft. He is the ultimate competitor who sets a high standard, works tirelessly to improve and is meticulous with his process.
"As a team captain, he was profuse in his praise for teammates and coaches whenever he had the chance. Off the field, Kirk and Julie displayed consistent integrity and class as they prioritized giving back monetarily and through the use of their platform. We are grateful to the Cousins family and look forward to watching them continue to have professional and personal success."
Cousins signed with Minnesota in 2018 to an unprecedented fully-guaranteed contract. In six years with the Vikings, Cousins threw for 23,265 yards and 171 touchdowns while leading the team to a 50-37-1 record in his 88 games played in purple.
Kirk Cousins behind the scenes at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minn.
Credit: Alli Rusco, Minnesota Vikings
He ranks third all-time in passing yards in franchise history, behind only Fran Tarkenton and Tommy Kramer while his 171 touchdowns ranks second behind Tarkenton.
Despite plenty of regular season success, the Vikings never experienced the same in the postseason with Cousins at the helm. Minnesota had a 1-2 playoff record making just two trips to the postseason during Cousins' tenure.
With Kirk moving on, the Vikings brought in former 49ers QB Sam Darnold and are expected to draft a quarterback in next month's NFL Draft.
