What Would it Take for Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins to ‘Walk Away’ from the NFL?

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is gearing up for a big playoff game against the New York Giants on Sunday (Jan. 15), and all eye will be on the two teams. It’s the Wild Card game, so whoever wins advances towards the Super Bowl.

Sure, Cousins is extremely passionate about football, but when asked about retirement, it seems that he’s thought about it a lot. Cousins said that at the point that he stops growing as an NFL player, he could expect to be okay with walking away from the game.

“I think every time you go out there and play and learn and get better, you build as a player. … I do think the continuous improvement has happened. The day that I don’t think that’s happening anymore is when I’ll probably walk away,” Cousins told the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via FoxNews.com).

The 34-year-old quarterback got his start playing with Michigan State University, and from there, went pro. During the 2022 season, he threw 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, clocking in more than 4,500 passing yards. He also made his fourth Pro Bowl this year.

This season, even though Cousins didn’t have his best numbers, he helped the Vikings achieve a 13-4 record they snagged the No. 3 seed for the postseason.

The Vikings-Giants wild-card playoff game takes place Sunday (Jan. 15) at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX. Cousins and the Vikings are favored to win in this weekend’s matchup, but it’s not expected to be a blowout, so anything is possible. One things is for sure: Cousins will have to be on point to pull off a win. The stakes are higher in the playoffs, and the Wild Card game is never a sleeper.