X

Kirk Cousins' NFL Career Earnings After Agreeing to Reported $180M Falcons Contract

zach bacharContributor IMarch 11, 2024

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 23: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 23, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins agreed to a massive four-year contract worth $180 million with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

A reported $100 million of the $180 million is fully guaranteed, while a $50 million signing bonus is also included. Cousins' $100 million in guaranteed money will consist of $90 million in 2024 and 2025, then the remaining $10 million in 2026.

If he plays out the contract and earns all $180 million, his career earnings will be just over $411.6 million (via Spotrac).

While Cousins has earned four Pro Bowl nods throughout his career, that's a surprisingly large amount for a signal-caller who has only appeared in five playoff games and owns a record of 76-67-2 as a starter since he entered the NFL in 2012.

After starting his career in Washington, Cousins received a three-year contract worth $84 million from the Vikings in 2018. Two seasons later, he agreed to a two-year extension with the organization totaling $66 million. He also earned another $30 million during his final season with Minnesota in 2023, per Spotrac.

Atlanta is taking a risk by signing Cousins, as he's coming off a season-ending torn Achilles that he suffered in Week 8. He'll also be 36 years old at the beginning of the 2024 regular season.

Still, he threw for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns compared to just five interceptions in eight starts prior to the injury. If Cousins bounces back strong, he should help the Falcons as they look to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.