Feb 08, 2026
3 min read
Nearly two years after signing that giant nine-figure contract, the team is expected to release the 37-year-old signal-caller before the start of the new league year in March.
Kirk Cousins is set to cut the Atlanta Falcons ... and he could balance retirement
The Atlanta Falcons are expected to cut Kirk Cousins before the start of the new year in March, according to reports.
The 37-year-old veteran quarterback moved to Atlanta on a staggering four-year, $180 million contract through 2024, but he quickly lost his starting job to Michael Penix Jr. and underperformed.
For nearly two years, ESPN has been reporting that the Falcons would release Cousins before the start of the new year so he could play wherever he wanted in 2026.
The two teams restructured his contract to make it easier for Cousins, who was released as expected, and gave Cousins the option and financial terms he wanted in Atlanta.
They modified the final two years of his contract after changing his base salary last year from $35 million to $2.1 million and adding the remaining $32.9 million to his 2027 base salary, bringing it to $67.9 million.That figure will be guaranteed if he remains on the roster at the start of the minor league season.
Cousins is about to become a free agent again, which has given him fully guaranteed contracts with the Falcons and Minnesota Vikings in recent years.
The Falcons are expected to cut Kirk Cousins before the start of the new league year.
The 37-year-old quickly lost his starting spot after signing a $180m contract in Atlanta through 2024
If he receives interest, the four-time Pro Bowler will now consider whether to return for a 15th year in the NFL or call time on his career six months before his 38th birthday.
If he decides to retire, post-football could also be an option, as he appeared on CBS' pregame show during the postseason.
In 10 appearances, Cousins completed 61 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions last season.After Bennix tore his ACL in November, Atlanta went 5-3 with him as a starter.
Parting with him further opens up the quarterback position for the Falcons, who aren't fully committed to Penix as the long-term starter.
New head coach Kevin Stefanski, president of football Matt Ryan and general manager Ian Cunningham are determined but unable to select a quarterback at the start of the 2026 draft after the franchise traded its first-round pick to James Pierce Jr. last year.exchanged.
Penix is recovering from surgery on a torn left ACL he suffered in November and will be out nine to 12 months as a result.
