One of the NFL’s most outspoken Christian players continues to glorify God despite being sidelined with a season-ending injury. Addressing the media last week, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins said he has been grateful for people’s prayers and continues to trust God with his life and career.
Cousins, 35, suffered a torn Achilles tendon during an October 29 game and has been rehabbing from surgery. In the meantime, Cousins has been advising and rooting for his replacement, Josh Dobbs, another outspoken Christian.
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QB Kirk Cousins: ‘It’s His Career That I Steward’
To open his Nov. 17 press conference, Cousins expressed appreciation for all the well wishes and prayers. “You don’t quite know how many people are in your corner and how many people are praying for you and cheering you on until something like this happens,” he said.
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The NFL veteran, who becomes a free agent after this season, also said his future is in God’s hands. “I’m excited to write the next chapter and see what God wants to do with it, whatever it may be,” Cousins told reporters.
“I’ve just kind of been reminded again that my career, it’s not my career. It’s [God’s] career that I steward, and I’ve just gotta surrender myself and let Him lead where He wants to go,” the QB continued. “And when that’s a torn Achilles, I have to accept it just as much as if it’s a win on ‘Monday Night Football.’”
Cousins emphasized that God’s plan is perfect, even when we can’t see what’s unfolding. “I’m learning to play this sport holding my hands open and say, ‘You know, God, whatever you want to do—if that means a torn Achilles—I’ve got to accept that,’” he added. “Ultimately I’ll look back and say, ‘God allowed that to happen, and I am where I am someday because of [getting hurt], not in spite of [it].’”
Kirk Cousins Serves While Sidelined
During his 12-year career, this is the first time Cousins has been out due to injury. But he isn’t letting the torn Achilles prevent him from serving. Last week, the QB, along with his wife and oldest son, served Thanksgiving meals with other Vikings players at a Salvation Army center in St. Paul.
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Andrew DePaola, the team’s long snapper, was asked if he was shocked to see Cousins there, on crutches, interacting with young fans. “Knowing Kirk as well as I do, no, it doesn’t shock me,” he said. “That’s just the type of guy he is.” DePaola added that Cousins is “a huge part of the culture we have here” on the Vikings.
