Kirk Cousins wanted to continue as the starting quarterback for the Vikings but the organization ultimately pushed him out and led him to sign with the Atlanta Falcons. Despite the circumstances surrounding their split, he was still booed by his former fanbase during his return to U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday.
“Minnesota nice” apparently did not apply to the hostile homecoming.
Cousins, 36, spent the last six years in Minneapolis. He won 42 games with the Vikings, including a 13-4 season in 2022. However, the team ultimately decided not to sign him to a long-term deal during the offseason after a torn Achilles ended his 2023 campaign. It wanted to keep its quarterback in the system on a one- or two-year contract and planned to draft a rookie with its first round pick.
That was not going to work. Cousins wanted to get paid, but more importantly, he wanted job security beyond one additional season. Atlanta offered him that opportunity. Minnesota did not.
Even though the Vikings were responsible for Cousins’ departure, Vikings fans let boos rain down on their former quarterback as soon as he stepped onto the field as their opponent. He could not hear the Falcons’ coaching staff in his helmet because of the crowd noise.
The Minnesota crowd booed Kirk Cousins as the Falcons took the field at the start of their touchdown drive pic.twitter.com/PzyVGwTt5k
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 8, 2024
Matthew Stafford received a similar reception during his return to Detroit as a member of the Los Angeles Rams. People could not believe it. Kirk Cousins, perhaps the nicest guy of all-time, getting booed by the nicest fanbase in the NFL is a whole new level of petty.
Minnesota had a chance to keep Cousins and chose not to do so. The fans should be grateful for his time with the organization instead of upset. They should direct their boos at the front office (even though everything worked out) instead of the quarterback.