Ever since Kirk Cousins and Kyle Shanahan stopped working together, it feels like there have been rumors pointing to a reunion. When Cousins came into the NFL as a fourth-round rookie in 2012, coach Shanahan was there in Washington as the quarterback’s first offensive coordinator. Cousins would learn from Shanahan for just two seasons before the coach was let go.
Yet, their dedication to the craft must have left a lasting impression on one another, as the two have seemingly shared mutual respect ever since. Now Shanahan, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, and Cousins, QB of the Minnesota Vikings, are being linked to one another once again.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio recently appeared on The Rich Eisen Show, where he made a noteworthy suggestion about the Vikings’ QB, currently headed into the final year of his contract.
“I think you’re going to see — unless the Vikings re-sign him by then, and they can’t use the franchise tag on him the way his contract is structured — you’re going to see a potential tug of war between Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay for Kirk Cousins next March. Mark that down.”
PFT’s Mike Florio on Rams, 49ers’ potential interest in Kirk Cousins
Despite stating a desire to retire with the Vikings, the soon-to-be 35-year-old may not have much of a choice. Barring another extension in Minnesota, Cousins’ contract will expire at the end of the season, yet the Vikings don’t exactly have an obvious backup plan in place either, with 164th pick Jaren Hall as the top developmental option on the roster but as a rookie, he’s a wild card.
As Florio stated, the possibility of the Los Angeles Rams and coach Sean McVay getting involved could also be viewed as a threat to sign the four-time Pro Bowl QB. Like Shanahan, McVay also previously worked with Cousins for five seasons, operating as his offensive coordinator for three campaigns in Washington.
The Rams have Matthew Stafford, who’s a year removed from winning a Super Bowl, but he’s also 35 and is coming off elbow surgery. But he’s also signed through 2028 after signing a four-year, $160 million contract that’s set to kick in this season.
Moving on from Stafford would be difficult due to absurd cap-crippling penalties ($55M to $86M), and the 49ers have a few young QBs in the stable, from former third overall pick Trey Lance to Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy and even Sam Darnold. How Cousins could fit into the picture is unclear.
Then you have the Vikings, who, as mentioned, don’t have a better solution in place. In the end, without another competitor stepping up to the plate, the best move for everyone might be another short-term extension, planting Cousins right back in Minnesota in 2024.
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