Ian Cunningham: Falcons plan to release Kirk Cousins on March 11
General manager Ian Cunningham confirmed the Atlanta Falcons will release Kirk Cousins on the first day of the new league year, March 11, a move Cunningham said was made "out of respect" for both Cousins and starter Michael Penix Jr.
Falcons GM Ian Cunningham confirms plan to release Kirk Cousins
Cunningham told a radio audience that he has spoken with Cousins and his representation and that the team intends to cut the veteran quarterback when the league year opens on March 11. The timing would let Cousins become available in free agency at the start of the new year, Cunningham said.
How the timing ties to contract mechanics and roster money
The Falcons reworked Cousins's contract in the offseason, moving the bulk of his 2026 salary to 2027 and setting a vesting date of March 13 that would guarantee him $67. 9 million for the 2027 season. The contract structure and the March dates set up a release before the vesting point; designating Cousins as a post-June 1 cut would also allow the club to spread his remaining cap hit over two years, a personnel and salary-cap decision the organization has signaled it plans to use.
What Cousins did in Atlanta and why the decision matters now
Cousins signed with Atlanta in March 2024 after six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and three Pro Bowl selections. He began the 2024 season as the Falcons' starter and produced a standout Week 5 performance when he threw for 509 yards in an overtime win versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, breaking a franchise single-game passing record previously held by Matt Ryan.
That 2024 season finished with Cousins completing 66. 9% of his passes for 3, 508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. The following season began with rookie Michael Penix Jr. as the starter; when Penix suffered a season-ending knee injury at midseason, Cousins started the final games and guided the Falcons to a four-game win streak to close the year. In that stretch and across the 2025 season, Cousins completed 61. 7% of his passes for 1, 721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions in eight starts and 10 games played.
Cunningham said the decision to release Cousins was "out of respect" to both the veteran and Penix, reflecting the club's roster plans that had included Cousins serving as a short-term starter and mentor while Penix developed.
The timing also relates to specific roster payments: releasing Cousins on March 11 would avoid a roster bonus owed the following season, and the salary adjustments negotiated earlier this offseason reduced immediate salary figures while preserving prior guarantees already in place, the team has indicated.
With the Falcons publicly signaling the release, teams seeking veteran quarterback help will know Cousins is expected to be available when the new league year opens. The next confirmed milestone is the start of the league year on March 11, when the Falcons plan to formally release Kirk Cousins.
