Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins Doesn't Go Anywhere Without His Chains

When we think of the coolest quarterback in the NFL, our minds automatically drift toward Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow — but others believe it's Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings. After being heavily mocked for simply wearing a plaid button-down shirt at the start of the 2022 season, Kirk realized he was "no longer cool."

However, that reputation didn't stick around long. Following the Vikings' win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 4, Kirk was iced out in diamonds on the flight from London to Minnesota. Since that day, Kirk has evolved from painfully uncool to one of the coolest people in the NFL. With that said, read on to hear how his chain-wearing came to be!

On the plane ride home from London, Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw let a couple of his teammates try on his diamond-studded (and custom-designed) chain — including Kirk Cousins. There was video evidence of the exchange, which Kirk later addressed during a news conference.

"I borrowed [Darrisaw's] chain on the flight, I don't know if you guys saw that. Kris Boyd put that on me," Kirk told the press. "I had never actually put a chain on, so that was my first experience of what that feels like. Honestly, it was very empowering. It felt pretty good to have that chain on."

After that first experience, Kirk began wearing chains after every game. He did it again after the Viking's Week 6 win in Miami, with more teammates offering Kirk their chains.

"Flyest QB in the league," Vikings cornerback Chandon Sullivan wrote on Instagram. The quarterback in question can be seen smiling and rocking numerous chains on the flight back to Minnesota. Another video shows a different angle, in which various Vikings are hyping up "Big Kirko."

NFL on Fox sideline reporter Kristina Pink revealed that Kirk's chain-wearing quickly became a tradition — but also a superstition. Anytime the Vikings lost, fans were quick to assume it was because Kirk didn't wear his chains.

During the 2022 NFL season, the four-time Pro-Bowler — as well as QBs Patrick Mahomes and Marcus Mariota — was recorded on-and-off the field for the Netflix docuseries, Quarterback. The show, which debuted on July 12, 2023, marks the first collaboration between the streaming service and the NFL.

The docuseries "features exclusive, unprecedented access" from the start of the season to its conclusion, following the trio "on and off the field, from inside the huddle with teammates to inside their homes with their families."

The eight-episode sports series also includes behind-the-scenes content of some of the biggest moments of the 2022 NFL season, as Kirk "engineered the greatest comeback in NFL history and led the Minnesota Vikings to an NFC North Division title." Those chains seem to have elevated Kirk's game — let's hope he brings them back for the 2023 season!

Quarterback is now streaming on Netflix.