NFL quarterback Kirk Cousins determined to glorify Christ this football season 

Whether or not he surpasses last year’s record-tying season, NFL quarterback Kirk Cousins is determined to glorify God.

The 35-year-old Minnesota Vikings star led eight game-winning drives on the way to a 13-4 season, tying an NFL record. Cousins received the lion’s share of the credit as his high-level execution allowed the team to overcome his team’s defensive struggles.

In December, Cousins even rallied his team to a 39-36 come-from-behind victory in overtime after falling behind 33-0 against the Indianapolis Colts, setting the record for the largest comeback in NFL history.

Though Cousins is not one for personal accolades, he is currently in the best statistical stretch of his career since landing a lucrative contract from the Vikings in 2018. The star quarterback has been named to three of the last four Pro Bowls, led the Vikings to the playoffs twice, and passed for over 4,500 yards last season. 

Cousins has already surpassed any projections for his career, and fans have fallen in love with him watching Netflix’s ultra-popular “Quarterback” docuseries. 

In that series, viewers got a peek into the life of a man truly devoted to living out his Christian faith. Cousins is known to pray constantly throughout games, as well as early in the morning, and share the gospel with his teammates without reserve. 

He even received the 2023 Bart Starr Award, an award recognizing outstanding Christian examples in the NFL. 

Cousins says Ephesians 3:20-21 in the Bible provides his framework for prayer:  

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” 

“I look back now with a sample size that’s much larger with the number of years we’ve been playing, and you can see the times that that prayer has been answered,” Cousins said on the Sports Spectrum podcast in March. 

Win or lose, the goal is knowing and glorifying Jesus, Cousins says. 

“It’s the losses where you’re reminded that I don’t know what I’m doing, and I need help, and God’s going to have to be bigger than my shortcomings and my inadequacies. So both the wins and the losses become great opportunities to recognize who God is in your life.” 

The Vikings open the season on Sept. 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.