Kirk Cousins Has Hired His Trainer Full-Time in Hopes of Extending His Career
Netflix's 'Quarterback' docuseries opened the public's eyes to the beating Kirk Cousins took last season and the work he does on his body to get ready for each game. Cousins has talked for years about how seriously he takes his bodywork both during the season and in the offseason. It's one of the reasons he's been so remarkably durable throughout his career.
This year, Cousins — who turns 35 in a few weeks — is taking it to another level. He told reporters on Tuesday that he's hired Chad Cook, his longtime offseason trainer, in a full-time role. Cook has moved from Atlanta to Minnesota to work with Cousins in his home on a daily basis.
"I just said, you know what, we’ve never done that, and I felt like I’m going to go all in," Cousins said. "Tom [Brady] had Alex Guerrero and I just felt that there was a lot of merit in saying, I have a small window here to maximize and if I play one year more than I otherwise would have because I took it this seriously, then that’s well worth it. So, every free moment, I’ll be running home to get work and I think that’s — time will tell — but I’m excited about, not only the benefit of the health, but peace of mind it gives me, because I know that I can just show up, turn my brain off, and he’s going to handle it."
Cousins was inspired not only by Brady, but by Patrick Mahomes' work with Bobby Stroupe, his trainer and bodywork coach. Cousins and Mahomes got to know each other a bit because of 'Quarterback.'
"I just feel that this is something serious enough, my health, staying on the field, being around a long time, it’s not worth cutting corners," Cousins said. "Let’s go all in, let’s overcommit if we have to. If I’m guilty of that, I can live with that."
For Cousins, this commitment is part of a realization that his window as an NFL starting quarterback will only last so much longer. With his 35th birthday approaching, he wants to maximize and extend his remaining time in the league. Cousins obviously wants to be the best player he can be and win a Super Bowl, but he also wants to play long enough so his young sons will be old enough to watch him and remember it.
"I think I’ve been given a gift and I’ve lived this my whole life," Cousins said. "I used to sit there in middle school and look up at the stars in the summer, see a shooting star and everyone would make a wish. My wish was to be a pro quarterback, so I’m going to do all I can to maximize that and shame on me if there was more out there to get and I didn’t do all I could.
"Even if it ends after this year, I have to feel like I walk away with peace of mind that I did everything I possibly could, left nothing out there. Certainly, I want to play long enough for my boys to be a part of it (and) remember it."
Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long.
