Career Timeline of Kirk Cousins: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Kirk Cousins made an impact.

Kirk Cousins is an American professional football quarterback currently playing in the NFL. Drafted by the Washington Redskins in 2012 after playing college football at Michigan State, Cousins has established himself as a notable player in the league. He holds a high completion percentage and ranks among the top quarterbacks in NFL passer rating.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1945: Completion Record of Sammy Baugh

In 1945, Sammy Baugh completed 70.3% of his passes.

1967: Sonny Jurgensen's Touchdown Record

In 1967, Sonny Jurgensen had 31 passing touchdowns.

1970: Touchdowns in 3 or more games

In 1970, Sonny Jurgensen had at least four passing touchdowns in three or more games in one season.

1986: Jay Schroeder's Passing Record

In 1986, Jay Schroeder had 4,109 passing yards.

1994: Redskins drafted Heath Shuler and Gus Frerotte

In 1994, The Redskins drafted Heath Shuler with the third overall pick and later drafted Gus Frerotte in the seventh round.

2007: Joined Michigan State

In 2007, Kirk Cousins accepted a scholarship to play football at Michigan State University after Mark Dantonio became the head coach.

2008: Backup Quarterback at Michigan State

In 2008, Kirk Cousins served as the backup quarterback to Brian Hoyer at Michigan State, playing in five games.

2009: Starting Quarterback at Michigan State

In 2009, Kirk Cousins won the starting quarterback job at Michigan State, leading the team to a 6-7 season.

2010: Big Ten Conference Champion

In 2010, Kirk Cousins led Michigan State to an 11-2 record and a share of the Big Ten Conference Championship.

2011: All-Big Ten Second Team

In 2011, Kirk Cousins was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches while leading the conference in pass completions, attempts and passing yards.

2011: Redskins Drafted Robert Griffin III

In 2011, the Washington Redskins drafted Robert Griffin III.

January 2, 2012: Outback Bowl Victory

On January 2, 2012, Kirk Cousins played his final game as a Michigan State Spartan, defeating the Georgia Bulldogs in the Outback Bowl.

May 31, 2012: Signed with the Redskins

On May 31, 2012, Kirk Cousins signed a four-year contract with the Washington Redskins.

December 15, 2012: First NFL Start and Rookie of the Week

On December 15, 2012, Kirk Cousins made his first NFL start against the Cleveland Browns, leading the Redskins to a 38-21 victory and earning Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honors.

2012: Game-Winning Drive Against the Eagles

In 2012, Kirk Cousins led a 90-yard game-winning drive against the Eagles, his first since 2012.

2012: Drafted by Washington Redskins

In 2012, Kirk Cousins was drafted by the Washington Redskins as the 102nd overall pick in the fourth round of the NFL draft.

December 11, 2013: Named Starting Quarterback

On December 11, 2013, Kirk Cousins was named the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season after Robert Griffin III was deactivated.

February 2, 2014: Open to a Trade

On February 2, 2014, Kirk Cousins stated that he was open to a trade from the Redskins.

August 31, 2015: Named Starter for the Season

On August 31, 2015, Kirk Cousins was named the starting quarterback for the season over Robert Griffin III.

2015: Became the Starter for the Redskins

In 2015, Kirk Cousins replaced an injured Robert Griffin III and led the Washington Redskins to a division title.

2015: Highest Completion Percentage

Kirk Cousins finished the 2015 season posting the highest completion percentage (74.7) in home games in NFL history, with a minimum of 100 attempts.

January 3, 2016: Redskins Passing Record

On January 3, 2016, Kirk Cousins set the Redskins single-season passing yardage record with 4,166 yards.

January 10, 2016: Wild Card Round Loss

On January 10, 2016, Kirk Cousins played against the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round. The Redskins lost 35–18. He was named the PFWA Most Improved Player.

March 1, 2016: Franchise Tag

On March 1, 2016, the Redskins used the non-exclusive franchise tag on Kirk Cousins, resulting in a one-year, $20 million contract.

2016: Career-High Passing Yards

In 2016, Kirk Cousins finished the season with a career-high 4,917 passing yards, ranking third in the NFL.

February 28, 2017: Exclusive Franchise Tag

On February 28, 2017, Kirk Cousins agreed to the exclusive franchise tag, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to be franchise-tagged in consecutive years.