Kirk Cousins ​​turns into a football professor in front of the media

Kirk Cousins has spent nearly two decades perfecting his understanding of the quarterback game, and this week, the Atlanta Falcons veteran pulled back the curtain about how the game has evolved – and how his mindset from way back in 2006 is still helping him thrive in 2025.

Cousins, a Holland Christian graduate and former draft pick, has stepped in effectively this season as the Falcons’ starter with Michael Penix Jr. sidelined with an injury. Despite entering the season with uncertainty about his roleCousins ​​has played some of his best football in key moments, including last week dramatic victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7).

During the media session, Cousins ​​was asked about progressive reads versus coverage-based reads, and he responded with a detailed, Professor breakdown about how quarterbacks are taught to process defenses and why the approach has changed.

“I’d love to get into it. I can get on this soapbox if you want,” Cousins ​​said via (h/t Atlanta Falcons post on X, formerly Twitter). “Because I survived the jump.”

Cousins ​​explained that early in his career, including his time at Michigan State, quarterbacks were often taught to identify coverage before snapping and to cut the field in half.

“I’ve come into a league, even at Michigan State, when you see coverage and pick a side, and you basically cut five qualified down to two, all the way to your check. Cousins ​​said, describing how offenses used to rely heavily on identifying a single or split look before the snap.

That approach, however, has become increasingly difficult as NFL defenses have improved their coverages, as the veteran field general explains.

“The defense was so good at covering it up that I would be so stressed going into games,” Cousins ​​said. “The whole game plan is built on whether it’s a single safety or a split safety, and I can’t see whether it’s a single safety or a split safety.”

As a result, offenses have shifted toward pure progressive reads — a change that Cousins ​​said took time to adjust to, especially when Kevin O’Connell introduced more of those concepts during their time together with the Minnesota Vikings.

“I remember when Kevin O’Connell was bringing in a lot of progression reads … it was like wow,” Cousins ​​said. “That’s a lot.”

Still, Cousins ​​noted the benefits, including less mental workload during the weekthough he acknowledged that the reality of the pass rush still forces quarterbacks to make quick decisions.

“The way the pass rush is, if you really try to go one, two, three, four, five, you’re going to get sacked a lot,” he added.

Go to quarterback school with @KirkCousins8 🤯 pic.tvitter.com/FkMZfeVtVi

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 17, 2025

That adaptability has defined Cousins’ career, from Washington to Minnesota to Atlanta, and it was on display again last week when he threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns. touchdowns in a 29-28 win over Tampa Bay.

With two years left on his contract and a looming quarterback competition, Cousins ​​continues to rely on the same principle that took him from overlooked prospect to NFL mainstay.