Kirk Cousins Cites 'Life-Giving' FaceTime with Tom Brady as Key to Raiders Deal

Veteran QB says Brady's guidance helped convince him to join Las Vegas as mentor to top draft pick

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:34pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angle view of a quarterback in motion, with sharp planes of color and overlapping shapes representing the dynamic energy of an NFL game.Veteran QB Kirk Cousins cites a 'life-giving' conversation with Raiders owner Tom Brady as a key factor in his decision to sign with the team.Atlanta Today

Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins revealed that a FaceTime call with Raiders minority owner Tom Brady played a key role in his decision to sign with the team in free agency. Cousins said the conversation, which took place while he was coaching youth baseball, gave him a 'shot in the arm' and was a 'big nudge' toward joining the Raiders on a five-year deal.

Why it matters

Cousins' relationship with Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, could prove invaluable as the veteran QB mentors the Raiders' expected first-round draft pick at quarterback. Brady's presence and guidance within the organization was a major selling point for Cousins in choosing Las Vegas.

The details

Cousins said he reached out to Brady and asked him to call, and the two were able to connect via FaceTime while Cousins was at a youth baseball practice. Cousins said the conversation with Brady, who has been in a similar position as a veteran QB, gave him the clarity he needed to sign with the Raiders. Cousins noted that Brady has already been around the team's facility and is eager to be a resource for him.

  • Cousins signed with the Raiders in late March, nearly a month after being released by the Atlanta Falcons.
  • Brady, a minority owner of the Raiders, was present for the team's first day of organized team activities.

The players

Kirk Cousins

A veteran NFL quarterback who recently signed a five-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders as a mentor to the team's expected first-round draft pick.

Tom Brady

A seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback who is a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and has been serving as a resource for Cousins since he joined the team.

Fernando Mendoza

The quarterback the Raiders are expected to select with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, whom Cousins will mentor.

Klint Kubiak

The first-year head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.

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What they’re saying

“You know me, I'm going to do my homework before I sign somewhere. So, I had a lot of conversations with people here and there with the Raiders' organization. One of those conversations was with Tom. I texted him and asked him to call me when he could. He actually FaceTimed me. I was at youth baseball practice. So, I stepped away and just FaceTimed with Tom for a little bit, just to get on the same page and the vision for the organization and kind of what he saw ahead and if I would be a good fit for it or not.”

— Kirk Cousins, Quarterback, Las Vegas Raiders

“I got off the call, and I called my wife and I said, 'That was a really life-giving call with Tom.' He gets it. He's been where I've been, and then some. I think he understands what it needs to look like and what it will look like. I really felt a shot in the arm after talking with him and I felt that was a big nudge for me to come to Vegas.”

— Kirk Cousins, Quarterback, Las Vegas Raiders

“Fernando is going to be a great addition to our team.”

— Kirk Cousins, Quarterback, Las Vegas Raiders

“I honestly don't want to start unless I'm the best option.”

— Kirk Cousins, Quarterback, Las Vegas Raiders

What’s next

Cousins will look to mentor the Raiders' first-round draft pick, Fernando Mendoza, while also competing for the starting job in training camp and preseason.

The takeaway

Cousins' relationship with veteran quarterback Tom Brady, who is a minority owner of the Raiders, was a key factor in his decision to sign with Las Vegas. Brady's guidance and experience will be invaluable as Cousins mentors the team's young quarterback of the future.