Ian Cunningham, the new general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, told Kirk Cousins on Tuesday morning on 92.9 The Game that the organization will let him go on the opening day of the league season.
In the radio interview, Cunningham stated that he discussed the decision with Cousins and his agent, Mike McCartney, and that it is not a huge surprise given Cousins’ contract restructuring a few months prior. March 11 is the first day of the league year.
Adam Schefter of ESPN stated on February 7 that it was anticipated that Cousins would be released by the Falcons. Cunningham was questioned about whether the Falcons could re-sign Cousins at a reduced salary point. “There wasn’t,” he said. During a scrum with local reporters on Tuesday at the combine, Cunningham stated:
“We won’t re-sign Kirk,”
According to a report by ESPN’s Field Yates in early January, Cousins’ deal was altered by the previous Falcons administration to guarantee $67.9 million for 2027, which would have vested on March 13. Cousins were expected to be cut because of that wrinkle.
Cousins’ 2026 base pay was cut from a nonguaranteed $35 million to $2.1 million as a result of the restructuring. The agreement just divided the preexisting agreed-upon funds; it had no effect on Cousins’ guaranteed funds.
