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Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins
With the Pittsburgh Steelers still unclear on what Aaron Rodgers’ decision will be on whether to return for another season or not, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has been a name brought to the team’s attention.
Cousins, 37, coming off a rather tumultuous two years with the Falcons, is looking at one last chance to bookend his career on a high note.
Would the Steelers be that team? Again, it ultimately comes down to whatever Rodgers decides. And if he doesn’t, then Cousins has to be the fallback option.
But not everyone may be a fan of a Cousins signing.
Steelers Insider Sends Clear Message on Kirk Cousins
Recently, Steelers.com writer Bob Labriola was presented with a mailbag question of whether he would rather have Rodgers or Cousins.
Labriola’s short and blunt response left no doubt about how he feels.
“I am a hard-no on Kirk Cousins,” Labriola said.
That kind of reaction says a lot — and he likely isn’t alone.
Cousins has long been a polarizing player. He’s a 14-year veteran with more than 44,000 passing yards and plenty of regular-season success. But the biggest knock has always followed him — he hasn’t delivered when it matters most.
Cousins owns a 1-3 playoff record, something that doesn’t exactly inspire confidence for a Steelers team that hasn’t made it past the Wild Card round in its last five appearances.
Then again, Rodgers hasn’t exactly dominated in the postseason lately either, going 0-2 in his last two playoff trips since 2021.
Kirk Cousins Still Seeking One More Opportunity
Despite how things played out in Atlanta, Cousins did finish his time with the Falcons on a positive note — and it’s part of why he wants to keep playing.
“I think getting away from the Achilles tear over two years now, I feel rejuvenated. Getting to play last year at the end, going 4-0 down the stretch, put the wind in my sails again. I feel really good. Probably the healthiest I’ve been in awhile,” Cousins said while speaking with Jon Gruden.
“So I don’t know where it’ll be. I don’t know under what circumstances. But I like the idea of getting back next year and playing. We’ll see, but I’d like to get back out there and give it another shot.”
Cousins finished his Falcons tenure with a 12-10 record as a starter, though his role was constantly under scrutiny after the team drafted Michael Penix Jr.
That uncertainty is something he’s trying to avoid this time around.
According to SI’s Albert Breer, Cousins is looking for a situation where there’s at least some level of commitment from a team.
“So while he wants to find a new home where he can play football again, he’s also leery of how quickly things can change,” Breer wrote. “Along those lines, it sounds like Cousins will be looking for a commitment from a team… something that shows that the team signing him sees him as the team’s starter.”
That could ultimately be the deciding factor — whether the Steelers are willing to offer that kind of belief if Rodgers doesn’t return.
Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker
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