Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is entering his 13th NFL season at the age of 36. That's an age when most people in his position have their own strict lifestyle regulations.
Tom Brady had his signature avocado ice cream, and now Cousins can claim that peeling off burger buns is his signature rule. Cousins told GQ on Tuesday that he not only peels off the buns on his burgers, but now he usually doesn't even eat them.
“When I eat a burger, I take the bun off. I hold it in my hand, but it's just to hold it. I eat everything else except the bun,” Cousins said.
Cousins added that all of this was done with the goal of avoiding gluten. Going gluten-free has become one of the most widely adopted dietary restrictions among NFL players and athletes in general in recent years, as more research is published on the physical effects of gluten.
Other notable NFL quarterbacks who have given up gluten include Brady and Drew Brees.
But Cousins goes a step further and eliminates all grains entirely, a decision based on his specific blood chemistry.
“I've had some tests and blood work done and while a lot of people are gluten-free, I've found out that it's not just about gluten in my case, but I also need to stop eating grains, like rice, corn and other things that my body doesn't respond well to,” Cousins told GQ.
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Quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons passes the ball during OTA offseason workouts at the Atlanta Falcons training facility on May 14, 2024 in Flowery Branch, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The sudden lifestyle change was inspired by Cousins’ experience dealing with a torn Achilles tendon he suffered last season on Oct. 29 in a win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Cousins was coming off one of the best seasons of his career in 2022. But the injury all but ended his six-year career with the Minnesota Vikings.
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons in the offseason, while the Vikings signed Sam Darnold in free agency and used their first-round pick in this year's draft to select JJ McCarthy, who already suffered his own season-ending injury with a torn meniscus in training camp.
But now, Cousins will look to be in top physical shape for the Falcons amid potential competition at quarterback. Despite signing Cousins to the massive contract, the Falcons used their first-round pick in this year's draft to also select a quarterback: Michael Penix Jr.
Quarterbacks Kirk Cousins #18 and Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Atlanta Falcons look on during OTA offseason workouts at the Atlanta Falcons training facility on May 14, 2024 in Flowery Branch, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Cousins is considered the starter to open the season, but with Penix on the roster and a first-round quarterback salary of $22.8 million with a signing bonus of $13.4 million over the next four years, Cousins will be under scrutiny.
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That's why he's been scrutinizing everything he eats to maximize his chances of avoiding another injury this year.
Some experts have linked gluten elimination to reduced inflammation in certain people. Inflammation makes muscle tissue less flexible, which makes tendons like the Achilles and meniscus, or anterior cruciate ligament, stiffer and more fragile. Even if no tear occurs, inflammation can lead to joint pain, stiffness and other problems.
As Cousins approaches age 30, hamburger buns could be one of the many sacrifices he must make to remain relevant in the NFL.
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