Cousins Building Strong Foundation With Raiders Rookie Mendoza Through Football, Faith and Mentorship

Kirk Cousins enters his 15th NFL season with his fourth franchise after signing with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason. The veteran quarterback joined a franchise that held the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which the team used to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Cousins reunited with head coach Klint Kubiak, whom he had worked with previously in his career.

Kubiak has made clear that Cousins will serve as the starting quarterback to begin training camp, with the veteran taking most first-team repetitions during practices and wearing a sideline headset during the Raiders’ second preseason game against Houston while Mendoza received first-half playing time. The coach recently praised Cousins’ performance at camp, noting it remains “his job to lose” heading into the regular season.

Cousins reflected on his developing relationship with Mendoza, drawing parallels to his previous experience in Atlanta when the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of 2024. “The quarterback room is at its best when everyone’s pulling together, helping one another, and we’re all working as a force together,” Cousins told Fox News Digital before Thursday’s preseason game, describing Mendoza as a dedicated worker adapting quickly to the professional game.

The veteran quarterback noted Mendoza’s intellectual approach to the position, highlighting his tendency to ask questions and his particular skill at throwing back-shoulder passes. Cousins and backup Aidan O’Connell have sought Mendoza’s perspective on certain plays, recognizing value in learning from the rookie’s instincts.

Beyond football mechanics, Cousins and Mendoza have connected through their shared Christian faith. Cousins indicated that faith emerged as one of their first conversations when Mendoza arrived in Las Vegas, with the rookie asking whether Cousins had found a church in the area. Cousins emphasized the importance of anchoring one’s life on something larger than football success, citing life’s external pressures that can weigh on players.

Cousins made clear his primary focus remains leading the Raiders to victories this season rather than prematurely handing over the offense to Mendoza. He stressed his desire to prove right those who believe he still has elite-level play remaining at 38 years old, while also building a meaningful relationship with his young teammate for years to come.

Away from the Raiders facility, Cousins spends time with his wife Julie and sons Cooper and Turner, prioritizing family activities including watching movies and sporting events. He credited his partnership with AWOL Vision, a projector technology company, with enhancing his family’s viewing experience both indoors and outdoors, from holiday traditions like watching “The Sandlot” on July 4th to major sporting events.