• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here

Anchored By Kirk Cousins Show, Vikings See Podcasting Growth

Oct 6, 2019; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) warms up before a game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Many NFL teams have podcast networks. Only one is headlined by an $84 million starting quarterback.

When the team and the Vikings Entertainment Network, released their new podcast lineup for the 2019 season they touted a new addition as their No. 1 attraction: “Under Center With Kirk Cousins” 

Co-hosting his own weekly podcast and radio show, Cousins doesn’t do the usual five-minute drive-by appearance with a local sports radio anchor. Instead, he tapes an hour-long show that features both video and audio, and is deeply involved in planning and execution. 

The pod is available across all Vikings apps and platforms as well as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. It also airs exclusively on the local KFAN 100.3-FM radio every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET.

With Cousins as the prime draw, the team’s overall podcast strategy is working. From Sep. 1 to Oct. 8, the Vikings Podcast Network registered 118,420 downloads, up 68.3% from 70,349 during the same period last year.

The 31-year old Cousins has always marched to the beat of his own drum. After signing his three-year, $84 million deal with the Vikings last year, he expressed the desire to have his own podcast, according to Chris Corso, the team’s digital media coordinator and audio producer.

The timing was right for both the player and the franchise. During his previous six seasons with Washington Redskins, Cousins didn’t get much respect from fans or media.

The debate in D.C. was always whether Cousins was a legit starter or glorified backup. So when heading to Minnesota, Cousins wanted to tell his own story, his way, without the media filtering his words or motivations.

The Vikings, meanwhile, wanted to give their fans more behind-the-scenes access via exclusive interviews, sound, and story-telling. After Cousins raised his hand to volunteer, the franchise teamed him with well-known Twin Cities sports anchor Mark Rosen.

“I think it’s a great way to communicate with those that follow our team differently,” Cousins told his audience on episode one. “I do press conferences after the games, but that is so hurried. You’re coming out of the game and you’ve barely been able to process the film and talk about the game to any degree and then we jump on Wednesday and speak to the media and we are already focused on the next opponent.”

Cousins typically records the show Monday. That gives him time to process the previous game, review coaches’ film, then speak more intelligently about the state of the offense.

He’s also shown a willingness to be quite frank on the podcast as well –  it recently made national headlines when Cousins “apologized” to wide receiver Adam Thielen for not getting him the ball enough. He followed that up by passing two touchdowns to Thielen in the next game.

“He wants to tell his story. The first season was disappointing for him here. He wants to be able to connect with our fans,” said Corso in an interview earlier this season. “He’s been great. The way he’s bought into it has been amazing.”

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer had a different take on the Thielen apology. “He was probably just being nice…Maybe he should get off the podcast,” Zimmer said.

There’s always a push-pull between the business and the team sides of a sports franchise. While the team’s business side was probably delighted to have Cousins embrace podcasting, most football coaches would view it as a distraction, said Amy Trask, the former chief executive officer of the Oakland Raiders turned football analyst for CBS Sports and columnist for The Athletic.

“Players and coaches have several league- and team-mandated media obligations every week throughout the season. When deciding if or to what extent to participate in non-mandated media activities (including radio shows, television shows, podcasts, etc.), players and coaches must weigh the pros and cons of these opportunities and decide whether, on balance, it makes sense to participate,” she said. 

Read More: Eagles Take Flight With Podcasting Strategy

“In my experience, most (if not all) teams would strongly prefer that players and coaches prioritize all responsibilities to the team, not simply those relating to the media, over non-team responsibilities. Some teams are more outspoken and direct in communicating this desire to players and coaches.”

In addition to Cousin’s show, here are some of the team’s key pods this season:

– The Minnesota Vikings Podcast: Corso and Vikings.com Mike Wobschall take fans inside the team’s TCO Performance Center every week. Includes highlights, locker room interviews and press conferences with players, coaches, and staff. 

– Skol Stories: Co-hosted by Rosen and Wobschall, weekly pod focuses on team legends like Randy Moss and Ahmad Rashad. Skol is a Scandinavian term for a toast. “Skol, Vikings” has been the team’s fight song since the early 1960s.

– The Voyage: Am HBO Hard Knocks-style documentary that follows the team from training camp. 

– Vikings Wired For Sound: Sound bites from wired players and coaches.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sports Equinox 2025 Shows How Fragmented Sports TV Has Become

Multiple streaming services are needed to watch Monday’s games.

$100M Browns Stadium Settlement Still Faces Cleveland City Hurdles

Cleveland’s city council must still approve the pact with the Browns.

Lamar Jackson’s Practice Status Flip Sparks NFL Investigation

Baltimore could be disciplined for not properly disclosing Lamar Jackson’s status.

Sarkisian, Kiffin Address Rumors As Coaching Carousel Spins Again

Reports are rampant about the coaches taking new jobs.

Featured Today

September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium

NFL Fall Meeting: 7 Big Topics Among Team Owners 

Media, facilities, and labor highlight some of the key areas of concern.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin
October 25, 2025

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
YouTube/ Multiple streaming services appear on a Roku TV.

YouTube in Another Carriage Dispute, This Time With Disney

ESPN and ABC could be dropped from the No. 4 U.S. pay-TV distributor.
May 17, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) shakes hands with New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) after the top of the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium.
October 23, 2025

Mets, Yankees, and the Nielsen Debate That Won’t Go Away

Weeks after the end of the MLB regular season, viewership issues remain.
Oct 21, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) keeps the ball away from Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the second half at Paycom Center
October 23, 2025

NBA’s NBC Return Draws 5.9M Viewers, Best Opener Since 2010

Thunder vs. Rockets peaked at 7.1 million viewers.
Sponsored

Why Alexis Ohanian Is Betting Big on Women’s Sports

Alexis Ohanian reflects on his evolution from Reddit cofounder to one of today’s most dynamic sports investors.
Brian Windhorst
October 23, 2025

Brian Windhorst Details Emergency Landing on Omaha–L.A. Flight

The pilots and flight attendants had a communication issue.
October 22, 2025

YouTube Stars Help Bring Back Golf Channel’s ‘Big Break’

The show will return in 2026 after an 11-year hiatus.
Candace Parker
October 22, 2025

Candace Parker Wants NFL-Style Coverage From NBA Media

Amazon will stream its first NBA doubleheader Friday.
Netflix
October 21, 2025

Netflix Staying on the Sidelines As TNT Sports Parent Seeks Buyer

The streaming giant shows little interest in acquisition possibilities.