FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Despite having multiple conversations about his desire to be traded earlier this year, quarterback Kirk Cousins is moving forward with the Atlanta Falcons.
The 36-year-old said there were conversations in January, February, March and even April. But the Falcons' offseason program began in May and Cousins is in attendance for the Falcons' mandatory minicamp in June.
It's no longer time to harp on those conversations. It's time to look toward the future in Atlanta.
"Right now, it's being in the situation I am in and being the best I can," Cousins said. "Hopefully, in February, we – as an organization – are holding up the Lombardi Trophy. That is more important as a team that we do that – someway, somehow. That is where the focus has to be, that we as an organization win a championship and each one of us individually has to do our part in that to get there."
Cousins' part this season is to be backup to Michael Penix Jr., which is different from a year ago at this point.
The Falcons signed Cousins in March 2024 to a four-year deal worth up to $180 million in hopes he'd be their starter for multiple seasons. Instead, they had to accelerate the timeline for Penix, who Atlanta drafted with the No. 8 overall pick that March, when Cousins was benched in Week 16 due to performance issues that -- in hindsight -- may have stemmed from both old and new injuries. Penix started the final three games, and the Falcons finished 8-9 after going 7-7 with Cousins.
Since the season wrapped, the Falcons have remained consistent with their confidence in Penix as their starter and Cousins as the backup regardless of how that financially appears when comparing the rookie and veteran contracts.
"I'm really comfortable with Kirk because of who he is, his character, the person," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. "I don't worry about those things with Kirk because he's a man first. He's going to go out and do whatever it takes for us to help his football team as long as he's with us, and he's with us."
Take a look at our favorite photos from the practice fields as the Atlanta Falcons continue the offseason program with minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga.
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron #65 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus #54 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Ryan Neuzil #64 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Leonard Floyd #56 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III #34 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom #63 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jordan Fuller #29 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Charlie Woerner #89 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Xavier Watts #31 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Ryan Neuzil #64 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Natrone Brooks #35 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back DeMarcco Hellams #23 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker #11 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Keith Taylor #39 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Chris Blair #19 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Ryan Neuzil #64 and Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Matthew Cindric #73 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Feleipe Franks #84 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defense during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney #1 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jordan Fuller #29 and Atlanta Falcons tight end Teagan Quitoriano #85 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney #1 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 during mandatory minicamp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Cousins is a 36-year-old husband and father of two living in Atlanta. He's a four-time Pro Bowler with 13 years of experience on his three-stop resume. He is an adult, and he is a professional.
Penix, who is at age 25 entering his second season, understands and appreciates what those details mean.
"He knows the ins and outs, and he knows how to operate an offense at a high level," Penix said. "I feel like I learned a lot of that stuff from him -- how he operated the offense, how he took command of the huddle, how he talked about the things he wanted whenever he was on the field."
There's surely still so much more Penix can learn from Cousins, too.
Better yet, Cousins is willing to teach Penix; he believes in him.
"Michael is going to do great," Cousins said. "He's going to have a great career. He's off to a great starts. He's got all the tangibles and intangibles you need to be successful.
"I'm just here to support him as he needs it. But I also don't need to be in his ear so much that I'm sort of another weight, another voice. I just want to be a support as I can, and he knows that."
Penix does.
"Since I got in, he's like, 'I got your back,'" Penix said. "I told him I got his back. We support each other. That's how it's always going to be. We're teammates. We want this team to win football games."
And there it is, plain and simple. Both quarterbacks said it on Tuesday: Their shared goal is for the Falcons to win. Whoever puts them in the best position to do so will hold the title of QB1, and as the Falcons continue mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, that just so happens to be Penix.
Cousins must be OK with that so long as he is in Atlanta.
"The key is that you don't pout or stop," Cousins said. "You just keep moving forward, and believe if you do that, good things will happen."
