In the middle of evaluating draft prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine in February of 2024, the Minnesota Vikings sent what turned out to be their final contract offer to veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. The proposed deal from the Vikings reportedly included a fully guaranteed salary for Cousins in 2024, and partial guarantees in 2025, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert.
Cousins, of course, said "no thanks" to Minnesota, and he eventually landed a four-year, $180 million contract from the Atlanta Falcons. A few months later, the Vikings used the 10th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to select former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Fast forward to Sunday's Week 2 primetime matchup inside U.S. Bank Stadium between the Vikings and Falcons, and McCarthy will be leading Cousins' former team from under center while the 37-year-old quarterback serves as a backup behind Atlanta's own young signal-caller, Michael Penix Jr.
Super Bowl hopes of the Minnesota Vikings now rest in the hands of J.J. McCarthy after Kirk Cousins' departure in 2024
Cousins' decision to chase the money in 2024 wasn't one that really caught anyone by surprise. He's always prioritized his bank account over team success in his NFL career, whether he admits that or not.
But it didn't take long for Cousins to regret leaving what he had in Minnesota. He got off to a solid start with the Falcons last season, but he wound up putting together some really bad performances as the 2024 campaign continued, and it eventually resulted in the team benching him for Penix in Week 16.
On Sunday, Cousins will be back inside U.S. Bank Stadium as a member of Atlanta again for the second year in a row. Unlike his return in 2024, however, he will be taking the field as the Falcons' No. 2 quarterback this time.
He will have a front-row seat to watch McCarthy attempt to lead the Vikings to a 2-0 record to begin the season, something that Cousins was never able to do in his six years with Minnesota.
The Vikings are also hoping McCarthy can do something beyond Week 2 that Cousins was never able to accomplish in his tenure, either, and that's lead the franchise to its first-ever Super Bowl win.
The next step in that process will take place on Sunday in front of thousands of Minnesota fans who will all be cheering on the guy who is now steering the ship that Cousins could never point in the right direction.