Falcons News
The Atlanta Falcons restructured veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins’ contract, setting a March 13 deadline that positions the franchise to release the 37-year-old before his $67.9 million guarantee vests for 2027. Cousins started the final seven games of the 2025 season after Michael Penix Jr. sustained a partially torn ACL.
The contract modification reduced Cousins’ 2026 base salary from $35 million to $2.1 million. That $32.9 million was shifted to 2027, creating the vesting guarantee. The Falcons will likely designate Cousins for a post-June 1 release. Such a move would split dead money between 2026 and 2027 rather than absorbing the full cap hit in one year. The team gains immediate flexibility by lowering his 2026 cap charge.
Cousins completed 217 of 269 passes for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions in 10 games. He started eight times in 2025. He went 5-3 as a starter after replacing Penix in Week 12. The Falcons closed the season with four straight victories. Cousins posted a 48.1 QBR and ranked 31st in passing yards among qualified quarterbacks.
Penix left the Week 11 game against Carolina in the third quarter. Tests revealed the partially torn ACL in his left knee. He underwent surgery in late November. The recovery timeline is approximately nine months. Penix could return in August 2026. His availability for Week 1 of next season remains uncertain.
New head coach Kevin Stefanski worked with Cousins in Minnesota. Stefanski served as Cousins’ quarterbacks coach in 2018. He became offensive coordinator in 2019. Cousins completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 7,901 yards and 56 touchdowns against 16 interceptions during those two seasons. The Vikings went 18-12-1 in games Cousins started under Stefanski’s guidance.
The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year deal worth $180 million in March 2024. They drafted Penix eighth overall two months later. The plan called for Cousins to start while Penix developed. Cousins was benched after Week 15 of the 2024 season due to performance issues. Penix started the final three games of that season and entered 2025 as the starter.
Atlanta fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot after posting an 8-9 record. The franchise hired former quarterback Matt Ryan as president of football operations. Ryan led the search that resulted in Stefanski’s hiring. Stefanski spent six seasons as Cleveland’s head coach before Atlanta hired him. He earned NFL Coach of the Year honors in 2020 and 2023.
The new front office faces decisions at quarterback. Penix needs months of rehabilitation. Cousins carries significant salary cap implications. The March 13 deadline forces action. Stefanski declined to address the quarterback situation until the team hires a general manager. Atlanta has interviewed multiple candidates for that position.
Cousins went 12-10 as Atlanta’s starter across two seasons. He threw 28 touchdowns against 21 interceptions in 22 starts with the Falcons. Penix completed 60.1 percent of his passes for 1,982 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions in nine starts during 2025. The Falcons went 3-6 in games he started before the injury.
The franchise must determine its quarterback plan before free agency begins. Cousins could return on a reworked contract. He could be released and pursue opportunities elsewhere. The team could enter 2026 with Penix as the starter if his recovery progresses on schedule. Atlanta could also add competition through the draft or free agency.
