“A really sad time”: Kirk Cousins’ wife Julie breaks down as Falcons bench him in Netflix’s Quarterback | NFL News
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins may be known for his professionalism on the field, but it’s his wife Julie Cousins who’s capturing hearts off it. In Season 2 of Netflix’s Quarterback docuseries, Julie opens up about the emotional aftermath of the Falcons’ decision to bench her husband in favor of rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The moment has sparked an outpouring of support from fans moved by her honesty and Kirk’s grace.
Falcons turn to Michael Penix Jr. after turbulent season
Cousins signed a four-year contract with the Falcons in 2024, but the team made headlines by drafting 25-year-old Michael Penix Jr. in the first round just weeks later. As the season progressed, a series of costly turnovers led to Cousins being replaced by Penix toward the end of the 2024–25 NFL season. The team has since announced that Penix will start for the upcoming 2025–26 campaign.Netflix cameras were rolling during the difficult period, offering fans an unfiltered glimpse into how the transition affected the Cousins family. Julie’s candid reflections have quickly become one of the most talked-about moments of the series.“He was gone for about an hour, and that was a really sad time,” Julie says tearfully in the episode. “My kids were playing and I was crying, and they’re like, ‘What’s wrong?’ Trying to explain it to them… they’re like, ‘Is he not on the team anymore?’ It was just a very somber night.”She describes how Cousins returned home quietly and chose empathy over frustration in a moment that stunned even her. “He came back and sat in the garage. When I went out there, he was actually calling Michael, which I thought was really cool,” she shares. “Like, who does that? You just drove home from one of the hardest conversations you’ve ever had, and you’re going to call Michael to say the job is yours? That brings tears to my eyes. That’s the kind of man he is.”The emotional moment quickly resonated online, with fans praising Kirk as “a class act” and Julie as a “real one” for standing by her husband. Quarterback Season 2 also features Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, offering intimate access to the highs and lows of life as an NFL star. But it’s the Cousins’ storyline that’s emerging as the emotional heart of the series.Also read: Inside Olivia Culpo and Christian McCaffrey’s baby name choice — and the story it tells of love, legacy, and grace
