NFL

The $180 Million Goodbye in Flowery Branch

Atlanta officially moves on from veteran QB’s $180M contract to clear the way for Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa

Miles J. Edwards March 11, 2026

Less than a minute

Credit: Wikipedia/Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta officially moves on from veteran QB’s $180M contract to clear the way for Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa

The Kirk Cousins era in Atlanta has officially come to an end. Just two years after signing a massive $180 million deal intended to stabilize the franchise, the Falcons have moved on from the veteran quarterback.

From his franchise-record 509-yard passing night to the complicated dynamics of being Michael Penix Jr.’s backup, we’re breaking down the numbers behind his release, the staggering dead cap hit, and what’s next for the Falcons’ quarterback room as Tua Tagovailoa enters the mix.

READ MORE: The End of the “Dirty Bird” Chapter

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Miles J. Edwards March 11, 2026

Less than a minute

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Miles J. Edwards

Founder & Creative Chief Architect, Art, Trade & Lifestyle Media Group Miles J. is an award-winning professional writer, filmmaker, and journalist with three decades of deep-rooted expertise in media production and investigative storytelling. As the founder and Creative Chief Architect of Art, Trade & Lifestyle Media Group, he leads editorial strategy and high-fidelity content development across expanding regional bureaus, focusing on the critical intersections of public policy, emerging technology, and urban infrastructure. A native of the California Bay Area and a long-time resident and community advocate in metro Atlanta, Miles J. brings a unique, bi-coastal perspective to modern journalism. His current editorial work includes building comprehensive policy blueprints for state gubernatorial races and producing forward-looking docuseries that examine municipal development, transit innovations, and workforce evolution. Committed to lifelong learning and cutting-edge industry standards, he actively couples traditional journalistic integrity with modern marketing management frameworks to shape the future of digital news architecture. Expertise: Public Policy, Emerging AI Technologies, Transit Infrastructure, Urban Development, Media Architecture. Credentials & Affiliations: Member of the Atlanta Media Press Core, Project Callisto Search Quality Evaluator.