Sipu Jha
Kirk Cousins will not be on the field during the NFL Divisional Round, but he will still be part of the postseason spotlight. Days after the Atlanta Falcons were eliminated from playoff contention, the veteran quarterback accepted a high-profile media role that has quietly added a new layer to the conversation around his future.The move comes at a moment of transition for Atlanta. The Falcons missed the postseason again, reshuffled their front office, and now face a looming contract decision on Cousins before free agency opens in March.
Kirk Cousins steps into CBS analyst role as Falcons begin pivotal offseason
CBS announced on Jan. 14 that Cousins will serve as a guest studio analyst on “The NFL Today” during the Divisional Round and the AFC Championship game. He will appear alongside Bill Cowher, Nate Burleson, James Brown, and Kyle Long for the network’s playoff coverage.The opening came after Matt Ryan left CBS to accept the newly created role of president of football operations with the Falcons. Ryan’s departure from broadcasting created a rare scenario in which one former Atlanta quarterback stepped into the front office while the team’s current quarterback filled his chair on national television.Cousins has prior media experience. He joined ESPN during the divisional round of the 2024 playoffs and was scheduled to appear on NBC’s “Football Night in America” during Atlanta’s 2024 bye week before canceling. He was also featured prominently in Netflix’s “Quarterback,” which documented the daily routines of NFL starters.The timing is notable. Cousins said earlier this month that his playing future remains unresolved following Atlanta’s 19-17 Week 18 win over the New Orleans Saints.“Hard to know. I would like to keep playing, but we’ll see how things play out in March or even after that… I would love to be back here. We’ll see how things play out.”Atlanta finished outside the playoffs for the eighth straight season, losing a three-way NFC South tiebreaker despite ending the year on a four-game winning streak.
Contract math, cap relief, and why media work keeps every option open
Cousins is under contract through 2027 after signing a four-year, $180 Million deal in 2024 that included substantial guarantees. Atlanta restructured the final two seasons of the contract to create flexibility, setting up a decision window in early March.The Falcons can release Cousins before March 13, spreading roughly $67.5 Million in remaining guaranteed money across the 2026 and 2027 seasons. That move would provide cap relief as the organization searches for a new general manager and head coach following the firings of Terry Fontenot and Raheem Morris.On the field, Cousins’ role shifted sharply over the past two seasons. After being benched late in 2024, he entered 2025 as the backup behind Michael Penix Jr., the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Penix suffered a season-ending ACL tear, pushing Cousins back into the lineup.Across 10 appearances and eight starts in 2025, Cousins completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Atlanta went 5-3 in his starts, including a late four-game win streak that kept the playoff race alive until the final weekend.Cousins also expanded his off-field profile this month, accepting a role as brand ambassador for AWOL Vision and its premium sub-brand Valerion. The partnership includes an appearance at CES 2026, where the company plans to debut its Aetherion projector series.“I love how AWOL Vision makes every moment at home feel vivid and alive,” Cousins said. “The clarity and scale pull you right into the action, whether it’s a big game, a movie night, or a gathering with family and friends. It’s about creating ‘wow moments’ with a truly immersive experience.”None of these moves confirm a retirement plan. They do, however, mirror the path taken by several veteran quarterbacks who kept media doors open while remaining active players.Cousins will turn 38 before the 2026 season. Whether Atlanta keeps him, releases him, or watches him explore free agency, the next eight weeks will define the final arc of his career far more than two weekends in a CBS studio.But the message is clear. Even after another playoff miss, Kirk Cousins is positioning himself so that football, in some form, remains part of his future.
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