It wasn’t long since Kevin Stefanski decided to make modifications to Kirk Cousins‘ contract. While it seemed like a clear indication that the team is now willing to give up on their star quarterback, the assumptions turned out to be true. After the team’s heartbreaking 8–9 finish, the head coach was open to making changes, and it appears the quarterback position is where he wants that reset to begin. Per insider reports, it is time for the Falcons to finally cut ties with Cousins.

“𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Falcons veteran QB Kirk Cousins is expected to be released by the team, per @TheAthletic,” insider Dov Kleiman wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Kirk will be 38 years old heading into his 15th season. Expect many NFL teams to make a move for him.”

Kirk Cousins’ contract with Atlanta remains one of the most complicated financial puzzles in the NFL. The quarterback signed a four-year, $180 million deal in March 2024, featuring $100 million fully guaranteed and a massive $50 million signing bonus. By 2026, the numbers balloon into a $57.5 million cap hit tied to $45 million in salary obligations.

His time with the Falcons (2024-25) saw him throw for about 5,229 yards with 28 passing touchdowns and 21 interceptions while making 24 appearances (22 starts). This also included a franchise-record 509-yard passing game in 2024.

This kind of price tag makes any potential trade extremely difficult. However, few teams are willing to absorb the most expensive single-season quarterback commitment in the league. Relying on the facts, Stefanski and Cousins worked together on a restructure that added enough flexibility without reducing any money he was already guaranteed.

Crossing the expectations over, the revised agreement shifted value rather than eliminating it. Cousins’ non-guaranteed 2026 base salary dropped dramatically from $35 million to $2.1 million. The $32.9 million difference was pushed into his 2027 compensation, which now carries a $67.9 million guarantee that vests on March 13, a date that effectively discourages pre-deadline trades.

While the restructure still meant no big monetary loss for Cousins, it was immendiate cap relief for the Falcons. The 2025 season saw Cousinstarted seven games after Michael Penix Jr.’s injury. He threw 10 touchdowns against five interceptions. While the discussions surrounding the quarterback’s position were ongoing, it wasn’t the team’s immediate plan to announce a decision on Cousins. According to the head coach, the team required other changes, especially in terms of management.

How Kevin Stefanski turned down his active plan for the Falcons to fire Kirk Cousins?

The firing of Kirk Cousins was well hinted at ever since they decided to make changes in his contract. However, according to the head coach, Kevin Stefaanski, the quarterback position wasn’t the one they were focused on. Sharing the idea in a recent admission, the 43-year-old opened up on the team’s urgent need for a general manager. According to him, roster decisions were placed quite late in the team’s list of priorities.

“I think we have to hire a general manager first, before I can give you a great answer there,” Stefanski said. “Once we do that I’ll sit with the general manager, sit with Matt Ryan, we’ll put our heads together on all roster decisions.”

While specifically addressing Cousins’ situation, the HC further assured fans of a delayed departure as the focus heavily sat on the GM search. “Kirk, obviously, a relationship there, he’s somebody that I think very highly of on and off the field. But all those types of decisions will come after we have a general manager,” he said.

While the decision regarding Cousins is now reported, it remains to be seen if they move ahead into the 2o26 season with Michael Penix Jr. Among the quarterback shuffle, the hunt for a general manager also continues, following the exit of Terry Fontenot.