Kirk Cousins said on the Netflix series “Quarterback” that he played through pain in his right, throwing arm last season in part to keep from losing his starting job with the Atlanta Falcons to rookie backup Michael Penix Jr.

Cousins says "it would have affected my decision" to sign with the Falcons if he knew they were planning to draft a quarterback early.

Kirk Cousins believed he had all the facts and with no reason to doubt the Atlanta Falcons' vision with him as the centerpiece of a new offense, he signed a four-year, $180 million contract in March 2024.