The Atlanta Falcons plan to release Kirk Cousins before the new league year officially starts in March.
New Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham confirmed the news at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Cousins, who turns 38 in August, will be released on March 11 and become a free agent for his 15th NFL season. Cunningham said he spoke to Cousins and his agent about the decision.
“Just felt that that was out of respect for Kirk and Mike, his agent, and what he’s done in his career, I owe that to him. We owe that to him to allow him some clarity going into free agency,” Cunningham said.
new Falcons GM Ian Cunningham holding court at NFL Combine
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) February 24, 2026
*Kirk Cousins will be released
*Falcons will never have just 5 draft picks again
*no setbacks in Penix’s recovery
*Depth is #1 priority pic.twitter.com/LieQd1TW2A
Cousins signed a 4-year, $180 million deal as a free agent in March 2024. The veteran quarterback was brought in to be a leader of the Falcons offense and the missing piece to get the franchise back into the playoffs.
But trust was broken, according to Cousins, when Atlanta drafted Michael Penix Jr. weeks later with the No. 8 overall pick.
With Cousins now out of the picture, the only quarterback the Falcons have under contract is Penix Jr. who is still rehabbing a torn ACL in his right knee.
RELATED STORIES
- Atlanta Falcons to use franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts
- Michael Penix Jr. talks ACL recovery, Falcons hiring Kevin Stefanski and Matt Ryan
- Kirk Cousins says he played through arm injury to keep Falcons’ starting job
©2026 Cox Media Group
