The Kirk Cousins Headline of the Day? Mustaches.

Big 3 Offseason
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings undertake Preseason Game No. 3 on Saturday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Arizona Cardinals come to Minneapolis, and the Vikings hope to end head coach Kevin O’Connell’s five-game preseason losing skid.

The Kirk Cousins Headline of the Day? Mustaches.

But first? Mustaches.

Facial hair stole the day on Monday as various Vikings players assembled for a photo to show off rather impressive mustaches. Quarterback Kirk Cousins was front and center with the operation, posting the group photo and providing color commentary.

Here’s the picture:

Image Courtesy of Kirk Cousins on the X App, formerly known as Twitter.

Cousins then provided the play-by-play, “Mustache Monday was a success. Austin Schlottmann wins for best in show. TJ continues to know his role: Look like Viktor the mascot. Depo looks like Captain Hook’s younger brother.”

Here’s a better photo of Cousins specifically, posted by the Minnesota Twins X app account.

X app user @tiffanytwizzle, a Buffalo Bills fan, replied to Cousins’ tweet, “Harrison Phillips is still killin it!???????????? Always be a Buffalo fav of mine. ????????.”

Cousins Headline
Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports.

Chad Stallman encouraged the Vikings to keep the facial hair until the team’s first loss, “Love the stash keep ’em going until a loss, if there is one!”

Scott W. Nebel sarcastically opined on some players’ facial expressions, “Jordan Addison & Harrison Smith look thrilled to be there.”

1 Viking Significantly More
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

Some were generally concerned about Addison and his expression. @KenMo33 tweeted, “Addison looks like a freshman who walked into the wrong class.”

@Bombo had a theory, “Addison waking up his mom at 3am to tell her he just threw up.”

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports. | Jan 15, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) looks on during warmups before a wild card game against the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

Thomas Brewers claimed a mustached-Cousins could wreak havoc on the sport, “If Kirko is rockin a handlebar mustache all year this league is in danger.”

Cousins may need a best-ever campaign in 2023 or at least a couple of postseason victories in purple. The Vikings front office opted not to extend the 35-year-old this offseason, tentatively scheduling Cousins for free agency next March. Of course, Cousins could still be extended at any minute, or next February or March, but on the Vikings books, 2023 is his final year with the club.

With or without mustaches, the Vikings begin the regular season in 19 days, taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Tampa Bay announced Tuesday that Baker Mayfield won the QB1 job, and Minnesota will get a crack at the former Brown, Panther, and Ram to start the 2023 festivities.

Oddsmakers forecast the Vikings to win 8.5 games this season.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.

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