Kirk Cousins’ Contract With the Vikings Was Once the Highest-Paid in NFL History

Sophie Hanson
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He’s been a franchise quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings for six years and has had an NFL career spanning 12. But at the end of the 2023/24 season, Kirk Cousins’s contract was up. But as beloved as he was at the Vikings, a season-ending Achilles tear during the Vikings’ 24-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers on October 29, 2023, put the future of his career into question.

Cousins was born in Barrington, Illinois, on August 19, 1988. He attended Holland Christian High School in Holland, Michigan. Cousins excelled in football, baseball and basketball during his high school years. He was the starting quarterback for his high school football team and achieved considerable success, finishing his high school career with 3,204 passing yards, 40 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.

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After high school, Cousins was all set to sign with Toledo or Western Michigan, until Mark Dantonio signed with Michigan State as head coach. Cousins was offered a scholarship, becoming QB for the Spartans. He became one of the most beloved quarterbacks in the history of the Spartans.

When it came to the 2012 NFL draft, Cousins was picked up by the then-Washington Redskins (now Commanders) as the seventh choice in the fourth round, 102 overall, as the backup quarterback to Robert Griffin III. In week 5 of the 2012 season, Cousins made his debut after Griffin suffered a concussion in the team’s loss against the Baltimore Ravens. Three years later, Cousins was named the starter for the season and took the team to several thrilling victories over the next two years.

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In 2018, he signed with the Vikings, making Kirk Cousins’ contract the highest-paying contract in NFL history at the time. But after suffering an Achilles tear in the 2023/24 season, the future of his career with his beloved team was put into question.

Kirk Cousins’ contract

Kirk Cousins’ contract
Kirk Cousins’ contract

When he signed with the Vikings in March 2018, Kirk Cousins’ contract was a three-year, $84 million deal, which is fully guaranteed. It did, at the time, make him the highest-paid player in NFL history. In what was entering his seventh season, he was consistently a Top-10 quarterback in the league.

Interestingly, a video posted to the Vikings’ website reveals there was another deal on the table—a $90 million, three-year deal with the New York Jets. The footage shows Cousins speaking with his wife, Julie, over the phone, he said that his agent Mike McCartney said the Jets were offering a”$30 [million], fully-guaranteed three-year deal,” but he urged McCartney to go back and try to get a strong counter-offer from the Vikings. “As much as the overall dollars are important in a contract,” Cousins said, “I think in my situation, structure is as important, if not more important.”

As it turned out, Cousins had researched the coaching staff and comradery at both teams, landing on his decision that the Vikings would be a better fit. “You know, you like to see the guys that people have worked with because you know that is going to affect their leadership style,” says Cousins. “For me, it’s important to not only be with a guy who I think can help us win, but to be with a guy who I think can help us win and make it enjoyable.”

On March 18, 2020, Cousins signed a two-year, $66 million contract extension with the Vikings. “Julie and I are thrilled to be staying in Minnesota for the next several years,” Cousins said in a statement Tuesday. “People have embraced us and treated our family incredibly well. We also believe we are building something special at the Vikings. We know how much this team means to the fans and the state, and we want to do everything we can to help this team bring a championship home.” He finished the season with 4,265 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions to go along with 156 rushing yards and a touchdown.

On March 13, 2022, Cousins signed a one-year, $35 million fully guaranteed contract extension through the 2023 season. “The Lord’s a gambler, and he’s kind of used my football journey to challenge me in that [faith] every single year. And that’s why I think the Lord likes one-year contracts,” he once joked to GQ.

Kirk Cousins’ injury

Kirk Cousins’ injury
Kirk Cousins’ injury

On October 29, 2023, Kirk Cousins suffered an Achilles tear against the Vikings’ win against the Green Bay Packers, placing him on injured reserve. For a 36-year-old, this can be career-ending and with Cousins’ contract with Minnesota up at the end of the season, it seriously puts his future into question.

But coach Kevin O’Connell said during an interview with ESPN that Cousins was having what he called “his best season in the National Football League,” and that he wouldn’t write his star QB off just yet. “I know he’s going to be a free agent after this season,” he said, “but Kirk knows how I feel about him, and that will be something that hopefully works itself out.”

Cousins spoke about what life could look like after football in an interview with Kare111. “Football was so much my dream that I thought it was impossible. I figured, you know, yeah, I would love to play professional football, but I also would love to win the lotto, not going to happen I knew the odds. There is no doubt I have other dreams, I love learning about business, I think when I am done playing, I will get pretty involved in investing and business and see what is out there and I am going to enjoy being a dad. I think when I’m retired, I will be a full-time dad that will be fun too.”

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