Kirk Daniel Cousins (born August 19, 1988) is an American professional football quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft. Cousins ranks sixth all-time in completion percentage with at least 1,500 pass attempts and is 11th in the NFL's all-time regular season career passer rating.
Cousins spent his first three seasons with the Redskins as a backup to Robert Griffin III before replacing an injured Griffin in 2015 and leading the team to a division title. With Washington, Cousins set several franchise records and was named to the 2017 Pro Bowl. After two years of signing franchise tags and being unable to agree with the team on a long-term deal, Cousins signed a fully guaranteed three-year US$84 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent in 2018. In six seasons with the Vikings, he earned three Pro Bowl selections and ranks third in the Vikings' all-time passing yards list. Cousins later played two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.
Kirk Cousins was born in Barrington, Illinois on August 19, 1988, to Don Cousins and MaryAnn Cousins. He is the middle child amongst three children. Cousins attended Holland Christian High School in Holland, Michigan, where he starred in football, baseball, and basketball for the Maroons athletic teams. Cousins broke his ankle in his junior year and was forced to attend camps in order to make an impression with recruiting colleges. Cousins finished his high school football career with 3,204 passing yards, 40 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions.
After high school, Cousins was set to sign with Toledo or Western Michigan, until Mark Dantonio became the head coach at Michigan State in 2007. After Dantonio failed to sign his top targets at quarterback, he offered a scholarship to Cousins, who accepted. Cousins also participated in the Athletes in Action sports ministry.
Cousins redshirted for the 2007 season. In 2008, he spent the season as the backup quarterback to Brian Hoyer. Cousins played in five games passing for 310 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
In 2009, Cousins competed for and won the starting quarterback job against teammate Keith Nichol. He led Michigan State to a 6–7 (4–4) season while throwing for 2,680 yards, 19 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 12 games. In 2010, Cousins led Michigan State to an 11–2 (7–1) record and a share of the Big Ten Conference Championship.
In 2011, the Spartans went 11–3 (7–2) and played in the first-ever Big Ten Football Championship Game. Cousins led the Big Ten Conference in pass completions, pass attempts, and passing yards. He was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches, and played his final game as a Michigan State Spartan on January 2, 2012, defeating the Georgia Bulldogs in the Outback Bowl. Cousins' teams posted an undefeated 4–0 record against the in-state rival Michigan Wolverines. He won the 2011 Lowes's Senior CLASS Award.
Cousins majored in kinesiology.
Cousins was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round (102nd overall) of the 2012 NFL draft. The pick surprised many analysts, as the Redskins had drafted 2011 Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick to be their franchise quarterback. The Redskins acquired the Griffin pick by giving the St. Louis Rams four high-value draft picks over three years. Cousins was viewed as an insurance policy in case Griffin was injured, with Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan saying: "You're one or two plays away from being the starter...And if I see that value out there on the third day of the draft, I'm going to take that." The Redskins drafting Griffin and Cousins in the same draft echoed the team's strategy in the 1994 NFL draft, when the team drafted Heath Shuler with the third overall pick and later drafted Gus Frerotte in the seventh round. On May 31, 2012, Cousins signed a four-year contract with the Redskins.
In the second game of the preseason against the Chicago Bears, Cousins threw three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, though the Redskins would go on to narrowly lose 33–31. In the fourth and final game of preseason against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he completed 15-of-27 passes for 222 yards as the Redskins won 30–3. Cousins was named the backup quarterback over incumbent starter Rex Grossman.
Cousins made his NFL debut in the third quarter of a Week 5 24–17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons after Griffin suffered a concussion. Cousins threw his first NFL touchdown pass on a 77-yard pass to Santana Moss but threw two interceptions in the last two series of the game while trying to tie the game.
Cousins' second NFL appearance came in Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens. On the final drive of the game, with the Redskins down by eight points, Griffin suffered a knee injury. Cousins completed both of his passing attempts for 26 yards and finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garçon with 29 seconds remaining, to bring the Redskins within two points of the Ravens. On the two-point conversion, Shanahan called for a run-pass option, and Cousins scored on a quarterback draw to tie the game at 28. The Redskins would win in overtime 31–28. Cousins was named the starter for the next game against the Cleveland Browns, marking his first NFL start. After a slow first half, Cousins rallied the offense to a 28-point second half. Cousins finished the 38–21 road victory completing 26-of-37 for 329 yards and two touchdowns. He was voted the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week, becoming the third Redskins rookie to receive the honor that season (after Griffin and Alfred Morris).
Cousins finished his rookie year with 466 passing yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions in three games and one start. The Redskins finished atop the NFC East with a 10–6 record. In the Wild Card Round, they faced the Seattle Seahawks. In the 24–14 loss, Cousins came into the game late in the fourth quarter in relief of an injured Griffin. He finished the game completing three of 10 passes for 31 yards.
Cousins made his season debut in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos and finished the 45–21 road loss completing five of nine passes for 48 yards and two interceptions. During Week 14 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Cousins relieved a struggling Robert Griffin III late in the fourth quarter and threw for 59 yards in the 45–10 loss. On December 11, 2013, Cousins was named starting quarterback for the rest of the year after Shanahan deactivated Griffin for the rest of the season in order to protect him for the following year, with Rex Grossman as the backup. Cousins played well in the narrow Week 15 27–26 road loss to the Falcons, completing 29-of-45 passes for 381 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. In the next game against the Dallas Cowboys, he threw for 197 yards, a touchdown, and an interception during the narrow 24–23 loss. Cousins struggled during the regular season finale against the New York Giants, completing 19-of-49 passes for 169 yards and two interceptions in the 20–6 road loss.
Cousins finished his second professional season with 854 passing yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions in five games and three starts.
On February 2, 2014, it was reported that Cousins stated that he was open to a trade from the Redskins. In March, Cousins announced that he would be giving the #12 jersey to incoming new wide receiver Andre Roberts for the price of a $12,000 donation to the Kirk Cousins Football Camp. Cousins then switched to the #8 jersey, which he wore throughout his high school and college career.
During Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cousins came in relief of Griffin who left the game with a dislocated ankle. Cousins finished the 41–10 victory with 250 passing yards and two touchdowns. In the next game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he threw for 427 yards, three touchdowns, and in interception during the 37–34 road loss. It was the first game Cousins had over 400 passing yards. The following week against the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football, Cousins had a poor showing, throwing for 257 yards, a touchdown, and four interceptions while also losing a fumble in the 45–14 loss.