Kirk Cousins and Bill Belichick Could Be the NFL’s Newest Odd Couple

One of the main characters is a 71-year-old who is considered one of the greatest coaches of all time. He’s won six Super Bowls but hasn’t won since his co-star was written off and moved to Florida. After a few rough years, he’s looking to get back on his feet and get back in the public eye for a fresh start.

The other character is a 36-year-old quarterback coming off a torn Achilles. He was beloved in his previous home but could also be looking for a new start.

The two characters couldn’t be more different but unite under a simple truth. Bill Belichick and Kirk Cousins need each other, and it could create the NFL’s version of The Odd Couple.

Belichick is trying to return to the mountaintop after his post-Tom Brady era failed in New England. Part of the issue was his coaching staff that featured Matt Patricia, Joe Judge, and Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinators over the past two seasons. But the combination of Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe was nowhere close to his previous Hall of Fame quarterback.

Another reason for Belichick’s demise was his work as a general manager. While Brady was an “easy button” he could press to overcome flaws, his new quarterbacks couldn’t make up for some of his other mistakes. New England didn’t have reliable receivers in the last two years, and his most reliable asset was a running back room that shuffled between Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott.

But that doesn’t mean Belichick is washed. His defense ranked 18th in points and seventh in yards allowed last season. The Patriots also played in 12 one-score games, but they didn’t have the offense to turn those eight losses into gritty victories.

While that proved to be Belichick’s undoing in Foxborough, there are several destinations where this wouldn’t be an issue.

Think of the Los Angeles Chargers, who have a franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert and several weapons with Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams. While this sounds good on paper, the Chargers are staring at a rebuild. According to Over The Cap, they are sitting at $44.9 million over the salary cap.

The Seattle Seahawks could also be an attractive destination. But that would also require out-coaching Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers and Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West.