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Kirk Cousins spent three seasons waiting behind Robert Griffin III in Washington, then turned that wait into a franchise-record passing career. He signed the first fully guaranteed deal in NFL history with Minnesota, struggled through an Achilles injury, and spent 2024 to 2026 bouncing between Atlanta, Las Vegas and back to the Vikings. On November 10, 2026, Minnesota reacquired him from the Raiders for a 2027 third-round pick, just ahead of the trade deadline. So if you’re searching Kirk Cousins stats, his age, his contract, his wife, or what the Vikings trade means for their season, this covers it – not just the numbers, but how he got here.

Kirk Cousins Stats & Profile

Attribute	Detail
Full Name	Kirk Daniel Cousins
Nickname	Captain Kirk
Date of Birth	19 August 1988
Age	38 years (as of November 2026)
Birthplace	Barrington, Illinois
Position	Quarterback
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight	205 lb (at recruiting)
Jersey Number	8
Current Team	Minnesota Vikings (second stint, acquired November 10, 2026)
High School	Holland Christian High School, Holland, Michigan
College	Michigan State (2008 to 2011)
NFL Draft	2012, Round 4, Pick 102 (Washington Redskins)
Marital Status	Married to Julie Hampton (m. June 2014)
Honors	4x Pro Bowl (2016, 2019, 2021, 2022), 2015 NFL completion percentage leader

Kirk Cousins Age: How Old Is Kirk Cousins?

Born on 19 August 1988, Kirk Cousins is 38 years old as of November 2026. Anyone asking how old is Kirk Cousins should know he is a 15-year veteran, the kind of age where many quarterbacks start to slow down. Kirk Cousins age is still a talking point, though. His 2015 season and his 2022 Vikings year show he can still produce at a high level when his supporting cast is healthy, and the Vikings are betting that experience matters more than a few extra years on the calendar.

Early Life & Background

Cousins was born in Barrington, Illinois, to Don and MaryAnn Cousins, and he is the middle of three children. He grew up in the Holland, Michigan area and starred in football, baseball and basketball at Holland Christian High School. Cousins broke his ankle in his junior year, which forced him to attend camps to get noticed by college recruiters. He finished his high school football career with 3,204 passing yards, 40 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.

Faith has been a steady part of his story. He has described himself as a practicing Evangelical Christian and took part in the Athletes in Action sports ministry while he was in college.

Kirk Cousins College Career at Michigan State

Cousins almost went to Toledo or Western Michigan before Mark Dantonio arrived at Michigan State in 2007 and offered him a scholarship. He redshirted in 2007, backed up Brian Hoyer in 2008, and won the starting job in 2009.

His Michigan State résumé was strong. In 2010 he led the Spartans to an 11-2 record and a share of the Big Ten title. In 2011 they went 11-3, played in the first Big Ten Championship Game, and beat Georgia in the Outback Bowl. He finished his college career with 9,131 passing yards and 66 touchdowns, and he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2011.

Kirk Cousins Draft: Round 4 in 2012

Washington selected Cousins 102nd overall in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, right after taking Robert Griffin III second overall. Many analysts were surprised, but head coach Mike Shanahan saw Cousins as a backup plan if Griffin got hurt. That insurance policy ended up shaping the next four seasons of Cousins’ career.

Kirk Cousins Teams & Career Path

Cousins has played for three NFL franchises over 15 seasons, and he has spent time in two different stints with Minnesota.

Team	Years	How He Joined
Washington Redskins	2012 to 2017	Drafted in Round 4 (2012)
Minnesota Vikings	2018 to 2023	Signed as a free agent (March 2018)
Atlanta Falcons	2024 to 2025	Signed four-year deal (March 2024)
Las Vegas Raiders	2026	Signed five-year deal (April 2026)
Minnesota Vikings	2026 to present	Traded from Las Vegas (November 10, 2026)

Phase	Years	Notes
Backup and Insurance	2012 to 2014	Waited behind Griffin III
Redskins Starter	2015 to 2017	Led Washington to the NFC East title in 2015
Vikings Starter	2018 to 2023	Three Pro Bowls and a 13-4 season in 2022
Falcons Starter	2024 to 2025	Led the NFL with 16 interceptions in 2024
Raiders Starter	2026	Nine starts before the trade
Vikings Return	2026	Reunion with Minnesota at the trade deadline

Kirk Cousins Redskins Years (2012 to 2017)

Cousins made his NFL debut in Week 5 of his rookie year and threw his first touchdown to Santana Moss. His real breakout came when he replaced an injured Griffin in a Week 15 game. Cousins led the comeback on the final drive and later started a road win at Cleveland, going 26-of-37 for 329 yards and two touchdowns.

The 2015 season made his name. Washington won the NFC East, and Cousins set a franchise record with 4,166 passing yards. He also led the NFL in completion percentage at 69.8, and he came back from a 24-0 halftime deficit against Tampa Bay to win 31-30 with a late touchdown to Jordan Reed. The “You like that?!” catchphrase from that game became a team-wide slogan.

The next two seasons were just as productive. In 2016 Cousins threw for a career-high 4,917 yards, and in 2017 he threw for 4,093 yards and 27 touchdowns. Those two franchise-level years were the reason Washington used the franchise tag on him twice, and it is also why his contract talks dragged on for so long.

Kirk Cousins Vikings Years (2018 to 2023)

The Vikings signed Cousins in March 2018 to a three-year, $84 million deal that was fully guaranteed, the first of its kind in league history. In his first season he threw for 4,298 yards and 30 touchdowns, though Minnesota missed the playoffs at 8-7-1.

Minnesota then extended him in 2020 with a two-year, $66 million deal. His 2020 season was impressive, with 4,265 yards and 35 touchdowns. The 2022 season was his best in purple. Cousins threw for 4,547 yards and 29 touchdowns, and his eight game-winning drives tied an NFL single-season record. The Vikings finished 13-4, won the NFC North and earned the No. 3 seed, although a 31-24 wild-card loss to the Giants ended the run.

His Minnesota tenure also included a few tough moments. In 2021 he drew criticism after a controversy over his decision not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and that decision cost him a role with a local hospital. In October 2023, Cousins tore his Achilles tendon in a loss at Green Bay, ending his season and leaving Minnesota at 7-10.

Kirk Cousins Falcons Years (2024 to 2025)

Atlanta signed Cousins in March 2024 to a four-year, $180 million contract. The Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall in the same offseason, and that choice put Cousins under pressure from the start. He had some memorable games, including a franchise-record 509 passing yards against Tampa Bay in Week 5, but the team’s 1-4 stretch and a shoulder injury he later said hurt his play sank the season.

Cousins led the NFL with 16 interceptions in 2024, and Penix replaced him as starter in Week 16. In 2025 Cousins backed up Penix for most of the season, then started the final weeks after Penix went on injured reserve and eventually had season-ending surgery. Atlanta announced in February 2026 that it would release him, and he officially left the team on March 11.

Kirk Cousins Raiders Stop (2026)

Las Vegas signed Cousins to a five-year deal worth up to $172 million in April 2026, with $20 million fully guaranteed. Atlanta agreed to pick up $8.7 million of that package, which left Las Vegas paying him a minimum base salary for the season. He opened the year as Las Vegas’ starter ahead of rookie Fernando Mendoza.

In his first game with the Raiders, a 27-13 win over Miami, Cousins threw three touchdowns and reached 300 career passing touchdowns, passing John Elway. Through nine starts he threw 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions, with 2,340 passing yards. The Raiders went 4-5 in those games, and the trade was the next step in a season that didn’t go as planned.

Kirk Cousins Vikings Trade: What Happened

On Tuesday, November 10, 2026, the Raiders traded Cousins back to Minnesota in exchange for the Vikings’ 2027 third-round pick. The move came just before the trade deadline, and it reunites Cousins with the franchise where he had his most productive stretch. Minnesota is trying to fix an offense that has struggled to score, and Cousins gives the Vikings an experienced starter who knows coach Kevin O’Connell’s system.

The trade is also a reunion of sorts. Cousins’ last game for Minnesota before this return was against Green Bay at Lambeau Field in 2023, the game where he tore his Achilles. Now he gets another chance to run the offense in the NFC North, starting with the matchup against Green Bay.

Raiders fans and analysts were quick to point out the financial side of the deal. Las Vegas paid Cousins only a small base salary for 2026 because Atlanta agreed to cover a large share of his money, and the Raiders got a third-round pick plus nine games of veteran quarterback play in exchange. That makes the trade look like a clear win for Las Vegas on the draft ledger, and it clears the way for Mendoza to take over the starting job.

Kirk Cousins Stats: Career Numbers by Season

Year	Team	GS	Cmp/Att	Yards	TD	INT	Rating
2015	Washington	16	379/543	4,166	29	11	101.6
2016	Washington	16	406/606	4,917	25	12	97.2
2017	Washington	16	347/540	4,093	27	13	93.9
2018	Minnesota	16	425/606	4,298	30	10	99.7
2019	Minnesota	15	307/444	3,603	26	6	107.4
2020	Minnesota	16	349/516	4,265	35	13	105.0
2021	Minnesota	16	372/561	4,221	33	7	103.1
2022	Minnesota	17	424/643	4,547	29	14	92.5
2023	Minnesota	8	216/311	2,331	18	5	103.8
2024	Atlanta	14	303/453	3,508	18	16	88.6
2025	Atlanta	8	166/269	1,721	10	5	84.8
2026	Las Vegas	9	202/315	2,340	20	8	97.1
Career	–	175	4,114/6,182	46,824	317	136	97.0

Add it up and Kirk Cousins career stats sit at 46,824 passing yards and 317 touchdowns, with a 66.5 completion percentage. Those Kirk Cousins career numbers are the ones that rank him among the league’s most productive passers over the last decade. His postseason record is 1-3, and his only playoff win came in the 2019 wild-card round against New Orleans.

Kirk Cousins Passing Yards & Records

Cousins’ best single-season total came in 2016, when he passed for 4,917 yards. His best single game came in 2022, when he threw for a career-high 460 yards against Indianapolis. Among his franchise and league records, he set Washington’s mark for most 300-yard passing games in a season with seven, and he ranks third on Minnesota’s all-time passing yards list.

The Kirk Cousins passing yards question will come up often now that he is back with Minnesota. In a typical season, he has averaged around 4,000 yards when healthy, and his biggest years came when he had a strong receiving corps around him.

Kirk Cousins Contract & Salary

Here is the Kirk Cousins contract history in plain terms.

Signed	Team	Deal
2012	Washington	Four-year rookie deal
2016 and 2017	Washington	Consecutive franchise tags
March 2018	Minnesota	Three-year, $84M, fully guaranteed
March 2020	Minnesota	Two-year, $66M extension
March 2022	Minnesota	One-year, $35M, fully guaranteed
March 2024	Atlanta	Four-year, $180M
April 2026	Las Vegas	Five-year, up to $172M, $20M guaranteed

The Kirk Cousins salary picture has been volatile. His Falcons deal looked huge on paper, but Atlanta moved on quickly, and the Raiders’ deal was structured with little guaranteed money. The Vikings’ reacquisition is likely a short-term arrangement while the team evaluates the position.

Kirk Cousins Net Worth

Estimates online typically add up his contract totals, but those figures count gross earnings and don’t reflect taxes, agent fees or other costs. The more reliable picture is his contract history: a fourth-round pick who became one of the league’s highest-paid quarterbacks through guaranteed deals and free-agent moves.

Kirk Cousins Wife: Julie Hampton

Cousins married Julie Hampton on June 28, 2014, in Atlanta. The couple have two sons, Cooper and Turner. Cousins has spoken about his family as a source of perspective during difficult seasons, and he has kept most of his family life out of the spotlight.

So is Kirk Cousins married? Yes. The Kirk Cousins wife, Julie, has been part of the family through his moves to Minnesota, Atlanta and Las Vegas. Their sons are a regular part of his public life, especially when he is in Minnesota.

Kirk Cousins Injury History

Injuries have been a major factor in Cousins’ career. The biggest was the October 2023 Achilles tear, which ended his season and cost Minnesota the playoffs. Before that, he had a shoulder injury in 2024 that he said contributed to his struggles at Atlanta. In 2025, a knee injury to starter Michael Penix Jr. gave Cousins his chance to start again.

Timeframe	Injury	Impact
October 2023	Achilles tendon tear	Ended season, Vikings missed playoffs
2024	Shoulder injury (Week 10)	Declined play during a 1-4 stretch
2025	Backup role after Penix’s knee injury	Started the final weeks

For the Vikings, the health question is simple. Cousins has been mostly durable outside of the Achilles injury, and his return gives the offense a veteran who can handle the job without a long learning curve.

Kirk Cousins Fantasy Football Outlook

For fantasy managers, Kirk Cousins has been a steady quarterback option when his team is throwing the ball. Minnesota’s offense needs to score, and his return should give the passing game more stability than the Vikings had before the trade. Cousins is a solid streamer and a reasonable QB2, especially in leagues that reward passing yards and touchdowns.

Kirk Cousins News & Latest Updates

Here’s the latest Kirk Cousins news as of November 11, 2026. The Raiders traded him to the Vikings on November 10 for a 2027 third-round pick, and both teams confirmed the deal. Minnesota is now looking to get its offense moving, and the matchup against Green Bay will be the first real test of Cousins’ return.

Why is Kirk Cousins trending? Mostly because of the Vikings trade and the reunion narrative. Fans are asking whether Minnesota can fix its offense, and analysts are weighing whether the Raiders got enough value. Any new Kirk Cousins news this week will likely focus on his first practices with the team and whether he will start right away.

Kirk Cousins Prediction: What Happens Next With the Vikings

This is my own estimate, not a reported result or betting line. Cousins gives Minnesota an experienced quarterback who already knows the system, and that should help the offense settle quickly. The Vikings still face a difficult schedule, and a short, sharp adjustment period is realistic.

Factor	Expected Outcome
Starting Role	Cousins starts immediately
Passing Production	Solid, with a higher completion rate than his Raiders stint
Vikings Offense	Better than earlier in the year, but not dominant
Biggest Question	Whether Minnesota can protect him and finish drives

Prediction: Cousins starts for Minnesota right away and throws for around 250 yards with two touchdowns in his first game back. Expect the Vikings to lean on that connection with Justin Jefferson to stabilize the offense.

Best Top Players for the Vikings

Player	Team	Why He Matters
Justin Jefferson, WR	Vikings	The main target for Cousins and one of the league’s best receivers
Jordan Addison, WR	Vikings	Reliable second option who has caught several of Cousins’ key touchdowns
Fernando Mendoza, QB	Raiders	Rookie quarterback who now takes over in Las Vegas
Ashton Jeanty, RB	Raiders	Cousins’ 300th career touchdown went to him in Week 1

Jefferson is the most important piece in the Vikings’ passing game. When he is healthy, the offense has a player who can turn a short throw into a big gain, and Cousins has used that skill to rebuild drives before.

Kirk Cousins’ Playing Style: What Makes Him Different

Cousins is known as a pocket passer with excellent accuracy and a strong feel for the game. He reads defenses well, processes information quickly, and makes accurate throws on intermediate routes. He isn’t a running quarterback, but he can move enough to escape pressure when needed.

His weak spots have been turnovers and inconsistency. His interception numbers have swung widely, and the 16 picks he threw in 2024 were a clear low point. When he is protected and comfortable in the system, though, he can carry an offense, as his Vikings and Redskins seasons showed.

Kirk Cousins’ Legacy So Far

Step back and Cousins’ career has two chapters. The first is the fourth-round backup who became a franchise leader in Washington, set records in Minnesota, and was one of the league’s most consistent passers for years. The second is the veteran who has bounced between teams while still producing big numbers. At 38, with more than 46,000 passing yards and a Pro Bowl résumé, his legacy is already secure as one of the most productive quarterbacks of his generation.

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