Kirk Cousins Bio
Kirk Daniel Cousins is an American professional football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Born on August 19, 1988, in Barrington, Illinois, Cousins grew up excelling in multiple sports during high school. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Over his career, Cousins has achieved notable success, including several Pro Bowl selections and leading teams to significant victories, while also putting together impressive passing statistics.
Early Life and Background
Kirk Cousins was born to Don and Maryann Cousins, the second oldest of their three children. He 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 to impress recruiting colleges. He 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. Dantonio offered Cousins a scholarship, which he accepted.
Path to American Football
Cousins redshirted for the 2007 season at Michigan State. In 2008, he spent the season as the backup quarterback to Brian Hoyer, playing in five games and passing for a total of 310 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. In 2009, he won the starting quarterback job against teammate Keith Nichol, leading Michigan State to a 6–7 season with 19 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and 2,680 passing yards in 12 games. In 2011, Cousins led the Spartans to an 11–3 record and was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches. He played his final game as a Spartan on January 2, 2012, defeating the Georgia Bulldogs in the Outback Bowl.
Kirk Cousins Career
Early Career (2012–2017)
Cousins was selected by the Washington Redskins as the seventh choice in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, making him the 102nd overall pick. Initially viewed as an insurance policy for the Redskins’ starting quarterback Robert Griffin III, Cousins made his NFL debut in 2012. He finished his rookie year with 466 passing yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions in three games. In 2015, Cousins led the Redskins to a division title and was named to his first Pro Bowl. He finished the season with 4,166 passing yards, breaking the Redskins’ single-season passing yardage record.
Breakthrough (2018–2023)
In March 2018, Cousins signed a fully guaranteed three-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings worth $84 million, marking the highest-paying contract in NFL history at that time. He had a strong debut season, finishing with 4,298 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. In 2019, Cousins led the Vikings to a playoff victory against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Wild Card Round. He continued to perform well in 2020 and 2021, earning Pro Bowl selections in 2021 and 2022. In 2022, Cousins led the Vikings to a 13–4 record and was named a Pro Bowler again.
Notable Works and Milestones
Cousins has achieved significant milestones throughout his career, including four Pro Bowl selections and leading the league in completion percentage in 2015. He is known for his leadership on and off the field, earning the nickname “Captain Kirk” from the media. He has also been featured in the Netflix documentary series “Quarterback,” which debuted in 2023.
Kirk Cousins Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Kirk Cousins has received multiple nominations for awards, including being named to the Pro Bowl in 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2022.
Kirk Cousins Awards Won
Kirk Cousins has won several awards during his career, including the Bart Starr Award in 2023 and the NFL Completion Percentage Leader title in 2015.
Kirk Cousins Family
Kirk Cousins is married to Julie Hampton, with whom he tied the knot on June 28, 2014, in Atlanta, Georgia. The couple has two sons, Cooper and Turner.
Personal Life
Cousins is a practicing Evangelical Christian and has been involved in charitable initiatives, including supporting Compassion International. He is also a cousin of Major League Baseball pitcher Jake Cousins. Cousins has been featured in a Netflix documentary series that chronicles his life and career in the NFL.
