Kirk Cousins, the former Minnesota Vikings quarterback, recently revealed in a press conference with the Atlanta Falcons that tight end Kyle Pitts joked about handing off his jersey number, No. 8, in exchange for being targeted more on the field. Cousins was willing to make the switch until the NFL stepped in and informed them that they would have to pay for each existing jersey with Pitts’ name and number on it. This led to Cousins having to find a new number for his time with the Falcons.
During an appearance on “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” Cousins discussed the situation with Pitts and the jersey number exchange. He mentioned that the league made it clear that they would have to buy every single jersey with Pitts’ name and number on it if they wanted to make the switch, which would have cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars. Cousins ultimately decided not to go through with the change and will instead wear No. 18 when he takes the field for Atlanta next season.
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, who was also a guest on the podcast, chimed in to say that he would never pay for a jersey number, especially after hearing the hefty cost that Cousins would have incurred. Cousins stated that the amount was a significant sum, and he decided that it was not worth it to write the check. Ultimately, Cousins will wear No. 18 for the upcoming season with the Falcons.
The Falcons signed Cousins to a lucrative four-year, $180 million deal, which includes a $50 million signing bonus and $100 million guaranteed. Despite the jersey number debacle, Cousins is looking forward to his time with the Falcons and hopes that it will be his last stop in his NFL career. He is excited to see what he can bring to Atlanta and is ready to get to work with his new team.
Overall, the situation with the jersey number exchange between Cousins and Pitts highlighted the complexities of switching numbers in the NFL and the financial implications that come with it. While Cousins was initially open to changing his number to accommodate Pitts, the high costs involved ultimately led him to decide against it. Despite the setback, Cousins is focused on making a positive impact with the Falcons and is eager to get started with his new team.
