Kirk Cousins’ first Vikings chapter had it all: Comebacks, chains and heartbreak

Receiver Justin Jefferson was at home when he got word, presumably from coach Kevin O’Connell, that the Vikings had agreed to reacquire quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of the NFL trade deadline this week . Throughout trade talks, Jefferson said O’Connell was keeping him “in the loop” so that “my opinions on different stuff — it gets heard, so I appreciate that from him.” His opinion on Cousins? Likely very positive given the memories that came flooding back to Jefferson upon getting word this week that they’re reuniting. “When I heard it, it was kind of a flashback, honestly,” Jefferson said Thursday. “Thinking about all the different plays, all of the different things we accomplished when he was here.” Advertisement Did Jefferson think this day would ever come where they’re playing together again? “Definitely not,” Jefferson said, “but it’s the NFL. It’s the business. You never really know what happens or the situation we could be in. It’s definitely a surreal moment for him to be here and hear his leadership and hear his control over the offense. It’s much-needed at this point in time to kind of switch things up. Hopefully he brings that juice, that energy and that leadership that we need.” Let’s take a stroll down memory lane through 10 of the most memorable moments in Cousins’ first Vikings tenure from 2018 through 2023. Expanded image view Kirk Cousins talks to the media outside of Capitol Grille after dining there with Vikings players and executives on March 14, 2018. ( Leila Navidi/The Minnesota Star Tribune ) March 2018: Kirk Cousins signs historic $84 million contract with Vikings Following a lopsided NFC Championship Game loss in Philadelphia, the Vikings and then-general manager Rick Spielman go all in to land free agency’s top available quarterback in Cousins, who agreed to a three-year, $84 million contract that was fully guaranteed. It marked the first of three consecutive contracts the Vikings signed with Cousins. Former Vikings quarterbacks Case Keenum (Broncos), Sam Bradford (Cardinals) and Teddy Bridgewater (Jets) all left to sign elsewhere in free agency that offseason.