Kirk Cousins has returned to the Minnesota Vikings, where he’ll need to get reacquainted with Kevin O’Connell’s offense. He also has a more immediate practical concern: finding a place for his family to live.
The Minnesota home he owned in Inver Grove Heights sold quickly after he joined the Atlanta Falcons, Cousins said. Now, following a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders, the veteran quarterback and his family are starting over in Minnesota.
His wife, Julie, is sorting out the housing plans. Cousins was glad to share that their sons, Cooper and Turner, were eager to leave Las Vegas and join him as he tries to help the Vikings get back on track.
“I was hoping they’d come with me, but I asked Julie what she thought,” Cousins said. “She wasn’t sure she could pull the boys out of school, baseball and their friends. She picked them up and explained that Dad had been traded to the Minnesota Vikings, then asked what they wanted to do.”
“They looked at her and said, ‘Let’s go!’ So they’re across the street in a hotel, and they’re excited for the next several weeks.”
A reporter joked that the boys, who are nine and seven, might soon be helping clear snow from the driveway.
“We’ll need to get a driveway first,” Cousins replied with a laugh. “I don’t have one yet, so we’ll take it one day at a time. Julie’s handling that.”
Cousins said his former neighbor found a potential buyer for his Minnesota home after he signed a three-year contract with Atlanta in 2024. The house sold so fast it never went on the market. At the time, he had no reason to expect he’d return to Minnesota.
The Vikings have struggled to find stability at quarterback since Cousins left. Sam Darnold led them to a 14-3 season in 2024, then signed with the Seattle Seahawks the next year and eventually guided them to a Super Bowl.
Minnesota had hoped J.J. McCarthy, its first-round pick in 2024, would take over as the long-term starter in 2025. A meniscus injury kept him out for his rookie season, and inconsistent play, along with reported concerns about his conduct, contributed to the team signing Kyler Murray this past offseason.
Murray has since struggled to stay healthy and play consistently. McCarthy was moved to third string and later traded to the New York Giants after their starting quarterback, Jaxson Dart, suffered a season-ending injury.
McCarthy has gone 2-0 as the Giants’ starter. Meanwhile, Minnesota turned to Carson Wentz after Murray was too injured to play against the Buffalo Bills on “Monday Night Football.” Wentz struggled, and by Tuesday’s trade deadline it was clear the Vikings were urgently looking for a quarterback who could provide steadier play alongside their strong defense.
Cousins was a natural option, given his history with the team and familiarity with O’Connell’s system. His experience in the offense and established rapport with receivers such as Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison could help the Vikings sustain drives and put more points on the board.
Cousins said he’s excited to work with Minnesota again. Things had not gone smoothly in Las Vegas, despite the Raiders opening the season 3-0. They are now 4-5, and the team has turned to Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, who had been learning behind Cousins.
It’s likely to be a busy week for the 38-year-old quarterback. His family is with him in Minnesota and, once they find a home, will be ready to settle in for this next chapter.
