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

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

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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