Kirk Cousins’ Falcons Frustration Highlights Harsh Truth About NFL Loyalty
Watching the newest season of Netflix’s Quarterback series has probably been a strange experience for Vikings fans. The spotlight is now on Kirk Cousins and his rocky start with the Atlanta Falcons after leaving Minnesota last offseason.
Cousins, who spent six years as the Vikings’ starter, left for what many saw as an undeserved paycheck in Atlanta. But things didn’t go as smoothly as he’d hoped — especially after the Falcons shocked him by drafting Michael Penix Jr. with their first-round pick in 2024.
In the first episode of the series, Cousins admitted he felt blindsided by Atlanta’s move and claimed the team misled him before selecting Penix. That confession sparked plenty of reactions — but none louder or more brutally honest than from former Vikings offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles.
During a recent episode of The OLine Committee: An NFL Offensive Line Show, Sirles didn’t mince words:
“Welcome to the real world of the NFL. Welcome to not being ‘The Guy.’ That’s what happens. [In] the NFL, the liars lie and the lies lie, everyone’s a liar. So you finally made it to year 13 before you felt truly lied to. Welcome to the club, man. That’s how this works. That’s how the entire NFL works.”
Cousins isn’t exactly used to being treated like just another guy. In Minnesota, the organization catered to him for years — but all that pampering only resulted in a single playoff win over six seasons.
When GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah finally put his foot down last year and offered Cousins a deal he likely knew would be rejected, the veteran QB bolted. He chased a bigger payday and a fresh start — and now he’s facing the harsh reality of NFL politics.
He’ll still collect a comfy $27.5 million this season, even if he’s riding the bench. So if the disappointment hits too hard, Cousins should have more than enough cash to dry those tears.
