Kirk Cousins expected a 'mature conversation' to get old Vikings No. 8 back but got a big surprise instead

Cousins wore No.8 during his previous six years with the Vikings before he left in 2025.This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.

If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.And this was a big deal for Cousins.

He wanted the number and told reporters on Wednesday he would talk to safety Jakobe Thomas about getting it back since the rookie has been wearing it since he joined the team this season.Kirk Cousins celebrates on the field after the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Indianapolis Colts at U.S.Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Dec.

17, 2022.(Getty Images)VIKINGS ACQUIRE KIRK COUSINS FROM RAIDERS WHO TURN TO FERNANDO MENDOZA AS THEIR STARTING QB"I’m confident that Jakobe and I can have a healthy, mature conversation and figure this out," Cousins told reporters.For those uninitiated in NFL traditions, this typically means a negotiation followed by a financial transaction.The number in exchange for money.Cousins made good on the promise to have that conversation by texting Thomas early Wednesday to see what it would take to make this happen.Everyone figured that negotiation proved lucrative to Thomas because when Cousins came out for practice on Thursday, he was wearing No.

8.And Thomas was wearing No.6.Except this is where Jakobe Thomas earns a grand measure of respect in the eyes of the team's new starting quarterback because he simply gave Cousins his number.No negotiation.No mature conversation.Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins gets pressure from Green Bay Packers linebacker Kenny Clark in the first quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., on Oct.

29, 2023.(USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)"We trade, Kirko gets here.

I look at and I'm just, 'Yup, he's probably going to ask me about it,' " Thomas said."And I was just, 'He's got more memories with the number than I do and it's his number right now.' He's go...