Kirk Cousins is stepping off the field and into the studio - at least for a little while.
With the Falcons’ season wrapped and no playoff football on the horizon for Atlanta, the veteran quarterback will join CBS Sports’ NFL playoff coverage as a studio analyst. It’s a temporary gig, but one that makes sense given Cousins’ reputation as a media-savvy presence and his growing experience in front of the camera.
The opportunity opened up after Matt Ryan - yes, that Matt Ryan - left his role at CBS to take over as president of the Falcons. It’s a full-circle moment for the longtime Atlanta quarterback, who now finds himself steering the franchise from the front office instead of the huddle.
Ryan’s new job comes with immediate challenges. His first order of business: finding a new head coach after the team parted ways with Raheem Morris.
So far, Ryan has cast a wide net, interviewing former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, ex-Ravens coach John Harbaugh, and recently dismissed Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. It’s a high-stakes hire for a team that’s missed the playoffs eight straight seasons and is desperate to turn the page.
At his introductory press conference, Ryan made it clear he’s not just back in Atlanta for nostalgia’s sake. “To the Falcons fans, my mission since I was drafted has never changed,” Ryan said.
“It is to help this organization do everything it can to be champions and to win championships. And there is a sense of unfinished business.”
As for Cousins, his future in Atlanta - and in the NFL - is still very much in play. The 37-year-old stepped in midseason after rookie Michael Penix Jr. tore his ACL, and Cousins helped stabilize the offense, leading the team to five wins in its final seven games. He finished the year with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions - not eye-popping numbers, but solid enough to keep the Falcons competitive down the stretch.
Cousins still has two years left on his four-year, $180 million contract, a deal that was restructured recently to give the Falcons some financial flexibility. That restructuring allows Atlanta to potentially move on from Cousins in March, spreading out the remaining guaranteed money - roughly $67.5 million - over two seasons for cap relief.
That move would signal a deeper commitment to Penix, the team’s first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Atlanta made waves last offseason by drafting the young quarterback just weeks after inking Cousins to that massive free-agent deal.
The plan was clear: Cousins would be the present, Penix the future. But injuries accelerated that timeline, and now the Falcons face a decision about how - and when - to fully hand over the reins.
For now, Cousins is staying ready. He’s expressed interest in continuing his playing career, and even staying in Atlanta, if the opportunity is there. But he’s also keeping his options open - and the CBS studio seat gives him a chance to showcase what life after football might look like.
It’s a unique moment for the Falcons. Their longtime franchise quarterback is now running the show upstairs.
Their current quarterback is moonlighting on national TV. And their future quarterback is recovering from a major injury.
There’s no shortage of storylines in Atlanta - and the next few months will go a long way in shaping what comes next.