Kirk Cousins has been on a wild ride these past few years, a rollercoaster of highs and lows that could leave anyone dizzy. In 2023, he was torching the NFL, on pace for an MVP-caliber season, topping leaderboards with jaw-dropping stats—until a torn Achilles cruelly derailed his campaign. Then came the gut punch: the Minnesota Vikings, his home for years, cut him loose. But just when it seemed the veteran quarterback’s story might fade, the Atlanta Falcons swooped in with a lifeline—a massive $180 million contract that promised stability and a fresh start.
Or so he thought.
Mere weeks after inking that blockbuster deal, the Falcons stunned the football world by drafting Michael Penix Jr. with a top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The move left jaws on the floor and Cousins reeling, feeling utterly “misled” by the organization he’d just committed to. And who could blame him? Imagine signing a near-$200 million deal only to see your team draft your potential replacement before you even take a snap. It’s a plot twist that screams betrayal.
Cousins’ frustration boiled over recently when he admitted to feeling deceived by Atlanta’s brass. His candid remarks struck a chord with former NFL star Chris Long, a two-time Super Bowl champion who’s been in those same cleats. Long didn’t just sympathize—he doubled down, declaring Cousins’ anger 100% justified. “I think we’re all selfish,” Long said on his podcast, unapologetically. “I’m a selfish motherf**ker because I tried to stay out there as long as I could. … If [Cousins] is selfish, he is far from the only one.”
Long’s point? Football is a team sport, sure, but survival in the NFL demands a dose of self-preservation. “You always have to believe that you should be the one out there to put the team in the best position to win,” he explained. It’s not just confidence—it’s the kind of relentless belief that fuels greatness, even if it borders on delusion. And Cousins, who started the 2024 season 6-3 as Atlanta’s QB1, only to go 0-4 with eight interceptions and no touchdowns before being benched for Penix, has every right to feel slighted.
Long knows this script all too well. He lived a parallel saga late in his own career. After winning a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots in 2016, Long, then 32, signed a two-year, $4.5 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017. It wasn’t a Cousins-level payday, but it felt like a soft landing—a chance to keep contributing at a high level. The Eagles didn’t promise he’d be the only defensive end in town, but Long assumed he’d have a clear runway to prove himself. Then, just like Atlanta with Penix, Philly blindsided him.
“I went over to Germany to get stem cell treatment,” Long recalled. “I’ll never forget, six-hour time difference. Woke up in the middle of the night to take a piss. My phone had 200 text messages. It was the night of the draft.” The Eagles had selected Derek Barnett, a first-round pick at No. 14 overall, a Tennessee standout who broke Reggie White’s sack record. Long’s reaction? “Man, f**k! Are you kidding me?” It was a raw, human moment of disbelief, mirroring Cousins’ shock at the Penix pick.
But here’s where the story diverges. Barnett and Long became a dynamic duo, combining to help the Eagles hoist the Lombardi Trophy in 2017. The team’s gamble paid off, even if it stung Long at the time. “I had no hard feelings for Barnett,” Long said, chuckling as he nicknamed the young pass-rusher “Gumby.” The Eagles’ draft strategy worked, and Long’s professionalism shone through. Yet he never forgot the sting of feeling expendable.
The next year, when Philly drafted Josh Sweat in 2018—a key contributor to their 2024 Super Bowl run—the team gave Long a heads-up call first. It was a small gesture, but it mattered. “It may hurt feelings,” Long admitted, “but making these tough decisions benefits the teams in the long run.” Atlanta, it seems, skipped the courtesy call with Cousins.
Cousins’ situation is messier. After his hot 6-3 start, his late-season collapse paved the way for Penix to take over as QB1. The Falcons are now banking on the rookie for their future, leaving Cousins, a proven veteran, to stew over what might have been. Long gets it. As an aging player, you’re not the brash 23-year-old ready to “beat out anybody.” You’re fighting for relevance in a league that’s always hunting for the next big thing. “When your years are numbered in the NFL, you wanna find a soft landing spot,” Long said. Cousins thought Atlanta was his. Instead, it became a battleground.
The NFL is a brutal business, and Long’s raw honesty lays it bare. Cousins’ rage isn’t just about a draft pick—it’s about trust, respect, and the fleeting nature of a career. Long’s been there, felt that, and come out the other side. And while the Falcons’ decision may prove right in time, Cousins has every right to be pissed. After all, in the NFL, a little selfishness isn’t just understandable—it’s survival.