Kirk Cousins’ decision to join the Atlanta Falcons was driven by a desire to be part of a long-term project, the quarterback said at his presentation.
Cousins signed a four-year deal worth up to a reported $180million with the Falcons on Monday after opting to leave the Minnesota Vikings via free agency.
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His primary focus is to recover from the torn Achilles he suffered in October which derailed what was shaping up to be an impressive season but Cousins also has an eye on the long-term.
He said: “I think in Minnesota it was trending over the last couple offseasons to being somewhat year-to-year.
“And as we talked with Atlanta, it felt like this was a place where if I play at the level I expect to play that I can retire a Falcon.
“And that was something that really excited me and that’s certainly the goal and you gotta earn the right to do that.”
Kirk Cousins is an Atlanta Falcon, y’all pic.twitter.com/LF29vZ0lbM
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) March 14, 2024
Cousins has a personal attachment to Atlanta – his wife grew up there and his youngest son was born in the city – and that sense of familiarity, added to the collective ambition shown by the team’s heirarchy – owner Arthur Blank, general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Raheem Morris – meant the 35-year-old was never going anywhere else.
He added: “When you see Mr. Blank’s commitment to winning and what he’s done over the years to make the Falcons a first-class organisation…
“When you see the players that Terry’s drafted, when you see his experience with the Saints and what they built over many years and the success he’s been around…
“And then I knew Raheem, and when I see what he’s done and what he’s been around and the people he’s led and the people who have worked with these people speaking so highly of them, I mean, the evidence was just mounting to show that this is some serious alignment here.”
