FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Quarterback Kirk Cousins only named one person when asked who he's looking forward to seeing most when back in Minnesota for Sunday's game against the Vikings.
His old neighbor, Jon Weber.
As the story goes, Weber used to help Cousins and his family out around the house, especially during the season. He even shoveled the family's driveway when it snowed.
"Jon Weber, great man," Cousins said. "He kind of represents so much about Minnesota that is great. Who Jon Weber is as a person was who so many people there were."
There's another reason Cousins only shared a non-football name, though. When it comes to the Vikings organization, there were — are — too many people who positively impacted Cousins' life. He couldn't pick a favorite.
"There'd be 50 people tied for first," he said.
That's why the primary emotion Cousins is feeling as the weekend nears is gratitude.
"When I arrived there as a free agent, they took a chance on me," Cousins said. "Ownership took a chance. The organization did. I think, too, of so many teammates who gave so much to help me and coaches who gave so much to help me. The support staff – from nutrition, weight room, equipment and training crew – they really got me through my Achilles tear and were just on it the moment I tore it until I left in free agency."
Cousins joined the Vikings in 2018 as a free agent after six seasons with the Washington Commanders, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2012 draft. He compiled a 50-37-1 record as a starter in Minnesota, completing 67.9% of his passes for an average of 264.38 yards per game. In total, Cousins threw for 23,265 yards and 171 touchdowns — which ranked fourth and third, respectively, among NFL quarterbacks during that span — and 55 interceptions while in Minnesota.
The Vikings made it to the playoffs in 2019 and 2022.
Cousins ultimately left Minnesota this past offseason, signing a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons.
"I have tremendous respect for Kirk," Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said. "One of the players throughout my journey as a coach that – either coaching him in Washington in '17 or being fortunate to get two years with him here – I just know how impactful of a player he is."
O'Connell was the Commanders' quarterbacks coach in 2017-18 and promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019. He became the Vikings' head coach in 2022.
So, the pair worked together during Cousins' final seasons of his last two destinations.
"I thought what Kirk did best over the two years is just the dialogue and the connection that him and I had to try to build our version of the offense here," O'Connell said. "And then, his ownership of that, being really good at end-of-game situations and totally bringing us back in many instances in '22. And then, just how he was able to, even despite the injury last year, still continue to have a positive impact on this building and his teammates."
This won't be Cousins' first homecoming type of game. He had to do the same with the Commanders once he was with Vikings.
Cousins' first game against Washington was in Minnesota, though. The Vikings defeated the Commanders, 19-9, in Week 8 of the 2019 season. Cousins didn't have to return to Washington itself until 2022, when the Vikings beat the Commanders, 20-17, in Week 9.
It's trickier this time around, however, because the Falcons are riding a three-game losing stretch in which Cousins has thrown six interceptions but no touchdowns. Atlanta is 6-6 entering this Week 14 contest. The Vikings were 6-1 and 5-2 when they played the Commanders in 2019 and 2022, respectively.
"Kirk's going to keep swinging," Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said. "He's going to keep shooting, and he's just going to get back at it and get back to work, which is exactly what he's done. I haven't felt anything different with Kirk. He's the same guy every single day, so he'll bounce back. We know he will."
Cousins is very particular about sticking to his weekly routines, too, so there may be some added comfort found given the familiarity of Minnesota, both figuratively and literally.
Because although Cousins hasn't been in the Vikings' visiting locker room, he'll at least enter with an idea of what challenges a Brian Flores-led defense will present his Falcons offense. Or, at the very least he knows the environment U.S. Bank Stadium will provide on the field.
"They're great football fans," Cousins said. "I would think as a result they'll make it as hostile as they can for us."
