HOLLAND, Mich. — The four letters scribbled on a standard business nametag served both as a completely unnecessary introduction of the town’s hometown hero and biggest star while also providing a perfect reminder that little has changed despite his immense professional success.
Presumed Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback Kirk Cousins is back home at his alma mater, Holland Christian High School, running a football camp that is more field day than hard-core athletic endeavor.
It’s far from a fly-by-night operation whereby an athlete pops in and collects a check for lending his name and some photo ops, but more so another chapter in a love affair between a man and the community that shaped him.
By the end of the camp, he’s calling on several of the 204 fourth, fifth and sixth graders by name when they raise their hands to ask and answer questions ranging from football to scripture.
And they are calling him “Kirk,” the name written by hand in marker on his nametag, at least until an afternoon storm washed it away early on the first day.
“I think it makes a statement that he’s not separate from anyone else,” his father, Don, said of the nametag. “That he’s no better than anyone else. He’s just another guy that happened to be given an ability by God to throw the football and to have the mind necessary to play quarterback. And he’s where he’s at because of who God made him to be.”
It’s a lesson Cousins learned from Holland and one he is still trying to share with a community that helped shape the kind of leader the Raiders are getting for at least one season.
The roots
Don Cousins, now the senior lead pastor of Discovery Church in Orlando, Florida, moved his wife and three children to Holland from suburban Chicago in search of a quieter life and one more aligned with the family’s core values when Kirk was in seventh grade.
If there is anything the elder Cousins talks about nearly as much as his faith, it’s competition and winning, core beliefs that have certainly been passed on to Kirk.
Don and his wife believed if they could “win” the next eight years, through the time older brother Kyle and younger sister Karalyne would all be done with high school, then they would give them all the tools they needed to compete in life for the rest of their lives. That, he believed, would make them winners as parents.
That goal was accomplished in this idyllic, picturesque community just miles from the shore of Lake Michigan.
“As a dad, I’m really just proud of who Kirk is as a person,” Cousins said. “He handles himself really, really well because of who he is on the inside. His character, his integrity, his genuine care and concern for other people. He understands what leadership is all about, and he understands that leadership is influence. …
“He genuinely cares about other people and doesn’t use them for his own benefit. He’s an equipper of other people and because of that, how he handles himself on the field becomes a winner as well.”
The leadership traits that have become synonymous with Cousins in the NFL were evident to those around him from the beginning. So much so that his mother started calling him the “Pied Piper” early in his youth.
“All three of our kids have a passion they get from their father, but Kirk at an especially young age was organizing activities in preschool,” MaryAnn Cousins said. “Then in kindergarten and first grade, he was organizing things at recess or football games. I kept getting calls as early as preschool for people to set up play dates with Kirk. I was just like, ‘Boy, you sure are popular.’ I don’t know what it was about him.”
Don Cousins believes the “clean-cut” image harped on by the media has hidden the fact his son has a “dynamic personality.”
“Every team he’s ever been on, he’s been a team captain,” the elder Cousins said. “He’s a lot of fun, and although he’s clean cut and he doesn’t run on edge of life morally or ethically if you will, the perception in some cases is that he’s viewed as a little bit square. He’s not square. He’s a lot of fun and part of the reason why the coaches come out and his friends still come is because he maintains all those relationships.”
Those attributes helped him find success on the field at Holland Christian, just steps from his front door, in football, basketball and baseball.
But it was football that would capture his heart right there on the same campus where he now hosts his camp.
“I think I learned right over here in this shed, the weight room, what it took to really work and grind at the game,” Kirk Cousins said. “Not just to go out and play, but to put the work in over the summer in the heat, lifting and running. I had teammates who were tough, hardworking people, and they kind of set an example for me. Then I had fun. So I think it was multifaceted, but there’s no doubt that the foundation was laid right here on this property.”
His favorite football memory remains a fourth-and-18 conversion in overtime, followed by a successful 2-point conversion that sent the student section scrambling to rush the field in a victory.
“Those are really special memories, and they do come back when you step on the grass here,” he said.
The growth
It took until late in the recruiting process, but Cousins, who will be 38 on Aug. 19, eventually landed a scholarship to nearby Michigan State, where his NFL abilities would be sharpened.
He credits former Spartans defensive tackle Justin Kershaw for further strengthening his acumen as a leader.
That started after his first practice, one in which Cousins admittedly struggled and started to question whether he belonged at such a high level.
Kershaw found him later in the day and offered words of encouragement that bolstered his confidence despite his struggles.
“When I ended up getting voted captain and people asked me how, I said I just did what Justin did,” Cousins said. “To have somebody to copy and model really helps. I’ve always taken that with me. Veteran leadership helps in the NFL. Now in the league, teams change so much that it’s hard. But if you can build relationships and be together longer, that continuity can make a difference.”
He didn’t say it, but it’s clear that will be part of his role with rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Cousins isn’t there to be a coach, but the organization understands Mendoza will be well-served by simply following the example set by Cousins.
Mendoza said on Maxx Crosby’s podcast this week that the best pieces of advice from Cousins so far have been about the importance of preparation and remaining genuine and not try to change perceptions or to please anyone.
“He said you’re not going to last long in this league if you’re not genuine,” Mendoza said. “Because they don’t want to follow an inauthentic leader. They will talk in the locker room about how this guy is a phony and question what you’re doing. So I just try to be true to myself because if you’re genuine, whether it’s what you think your teammates in the locker room want to see, the advice he’s given me is just to be yourself.”
That is exactly what Cousins has done throughout his career with Washington, Minnesota and even Atlanta where the start of his tenure was hampered by his recovery from a major Achilles surgery.
Despite at times being mocked on the outside by those who don’t understand him, Cousins has been embraced everywhere because he stays true to himself. And he’s been rewarded for his success.
He signed a landmark deal in Minnesota and found success for six seasons until the organization decided it was going to select a rookie quarterback and move on from him after his injury. Cousins landed in Atlanta only to be a bit blindsided when the Falcons also drafted a rookie quarterback in the first round.
Yet Cousins eventually found his way back on the field and closed last season with four straight wins as a starter before hitting the market and choosing to come to the Raiders, who he was well aware would pick Mendoza with the top pick.
“The pitch for me was the ball,” he said. “The scheme. The coaches. The chance to get it going in the right direction again. It’s a proud tradition there. I view it as a privilege to be a part of getting it going again and getting the football part of it right. I just had to be OK with living in the Mojave Desert. And when I got there, I was a little nervous. But after two months, you see it’s definitely workable. You need your electrolytes and your canteen of water. But we can absolutely make this work.”
So far, so good.
Cousins and Mendoza quickly built a relationship, one that was on full display in their “Step Brothers” parody for the team’s schedule release video.
But after a productive offseason program, there was no doubt where Cousins would be in the six weeks off before training camp opens in late July.
“I’ve often asked that question myself,” he said of why his family maintains an offseason residence and permanent bond with Holland. “We could go anywhere. Do we really want to spend six weeks in West Michigan every summer? And the answer to me has always been, without a doubt, yes. I think it’s the combination of the memories made here. The people I know here. The climate. The summer is favorable. You’ve got the water and the beach. But this is a special place for me.”
Cousins maintains a “funtivities list” for his time in the area that spans everything from sitting on the beach enjoying the sunset to playing tennis with his sons and golf with his high school pals.
The community
Holland isn’t just a place where Cousins keeps a vacation home as an investment property. He remains a key part of the community.
The clerk at Baja Grill on the main drag lights up when discussing Cousins’ frequent visits, relaying he often orders the chicken nachos and raves about the experience every time he does as if he’s being served filet mignon at the finest steak house on the Strip.
Among the first things one notices being in the presence of Cousins is how everyone feels as if they are the most important person in the room when he’s around. When fans, friends, or really anyone, approaches, Cousins is quick to start the conversation by asking about them. He appears genuinely interested in getting to know people who often appear to be hoping for nothing more than a handshake. It’s evident all around a town where Cousins has laid down roots beyond just his own property.
Cousins and his wife, Julie, decided a few years ago to buy Clearbrook Golf Course, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, to spare it from developers, a fate that had already taken historic West Shore Golf Course from the area.
“Our concern was that it would get removed and become apartments or housing or whatever was going to happen to it,” Cousins said. “We felt like if we could preserve it as a golf course for the next generation, we’d like to step in and be able to do that. That’s still our goal.”
It was no ordinary business deal.
The Cousins worked with owner Jim Jeltema and his wife, who are nearing retirement age, to purchase the course but keep them in charge.
Despite what was undoubtedly a hefty price tag for the transaction, the couples operated on mostly handshake agreements until the final step in the process. They even shared lawyers and experts for several of the key points of the deal.
“One of the things I get asked a lot is, ‘What is Kirk like?’” Jeltema said. “I think his integrity level is unimpeachable. He has such a solid human compass, and he just always uses that conscience to help him make decisions. … In my experience, he was exactly the guy you’d expect him to be, based on what you know about him and what you’ve read about him, through the entire process. There was never a time I would say something I needed that they didn’t respond to positively. It was just a really good relationship. And still is.
“The one promise he made is that this will stay a golf course. I turned down two offers from developers. I didn’t see any sense in going that route because I felt a long-term commitment to the staff, and I want to see them stay employed. He’s helped us do that.”
The camp
Cousins’ camp, which endured a hiatus because of COVID and is finally ramping back up again, is a key example. He dropped the age range this year to include his own sons, Cooper (8) and Turner (7), and plans to move the ages up as they grow.
It’s not just a way for Cousins to reach out to young kids in the area. Many of the volunteers are local high school and college football players who get the chance to interact with Cousins and pick his brain. Others are former high school pals of the quarterback who get to spend time with their friend.
His family is omnipresent. So are Laura Jongekrijg and her daughter Dana Geurink, the co-directors of the camp.
Jongekrijg was an athletic administrator at Holland Christian when Cousins attended school there and has remained close to the family.
She approached one youth as he arrived for the second day of camp to make sure he had a good experience on the previous day.
“It was the best day of my life,” the child responded.
Jongekrijg later remarked the goal was just to give them their best days of the summer.
But Cousins and his team work diligently to make sure the experience is a positive one. At one point, he is engaged in a meticulous discussion about whether the footballs should be smaller for the fourth graders to make them easier to grip. Shortly thereafter, he’s engaged in what becomes a negotiation on overtime procedures for one of the games.
There’s not a detail he wants to leave unchecked, which is why Jongekrijg is one of several people monitoring radar and weather forecasts and relaying updates to Cousins in case things need to be moved inside.
“Obviously, he gives back so much financially, but I think this is the bigger chunk of what he does,” Jongekrijg said. “He gives these kids a piece of his soul. He’s out there telling kids that life is hard, but you have to be strong and courageous. That kind of giving back is priceless to these kids, and I don’t think he has a clue about the way he influences lives around here. He has no idea.”
That included Cohen Jansen, who just wrapped up his freshman season and is next in line to become the starting quarterback at Holland Christian in the future.
“It’s so awesome to have him here,” Jansen said. “He’s such a humble guy, and he has done everything the right way. I think it’s cool he shows the kids they can be humble and still have success.”
Maroons head coach Dave Abberger called Cousins an “icon” in the community and credited him for being present more than just at his camp.
He said Cousins regularly sends texts and video messages to the team and individual players throughout their season that are often used in film sessions to inspire, motivate and teach.
“We don’t have a ton of celebrities, but we do have Kirk,” Abberger said. “I think what makes it cool is that when he comes back there is absolutely no pretense. He’s just back home.
“And nobody’s ever going to know about those little things he does for our players. It’s absolutely incredible for someone of his caliber to invest that kind of time in the players to this day. Every Saturday, he wakes up and checks high school football scores. And the kids know that. To know that he cares and that it’s not a transactional thing for him, but something he does because he actually cares, is what makes it so special.”
One of the most important parts of the event to Cousins is the dads lunch on the last day of the camp.
The fathers of the campers head into the auditorium for a lunch where Cousins talks to them before taking questions ranging from faith to fatherhood to football. Mostly the prior. It’s an open forum for Cousins and the dads to discuss both their ambitions and their shortcomings. It’s there Cousins tells them he and Julie sat down this year to draw up a family Constitution that will serve as a guiding document for what he hopes will be generations of Cousins to come.
Football still important
Cousins, of course, is a professional football player. And a very good one. He is expected to start for the Raiders this season, though just how long he will keep the job is largely dependent on both his success and that of the team.
But he plans to be on the field.
“There’s certainly a long checklist of football accomplishments I’d still love to get and a Lombardi (Super Bowl championship) is at the top of that list,” he said. “But ultimately, I think it’s about enjoying another year in the locker room with the guys trying to play the best football we can possibly play and win as many football games as we can possibly win.”
He said one of the big lessons he has taken from his 14-year career is that you can’t cheat the process. There are no shortcuts.
The key, Cousins believes, is to commit to the process and trust that if everyone in the organization pulls in the same direction, there will be a chance to reach their ultimate goals.
It’s similar to how he hopes to represent himself as both a successful player and a strong representative of the community.
“I think you can have both, but I think it would be a shame to be a great football player and not a great man,” he said. “I think any player would say that. Certainly who you are as a person is more important. That’s how my parents raised me.”
Not that he’s stressing out about his image.
“I think honestly you just have to be your authentic self,” he said. “I guess there would be pressure if you’re being somebody you’re not. And I’m not perfect. So you just have to understand that people are obviously watching and you want to walk with integrity. But I was raised right here to be that guy when nobody is looking.
“I’ve got my wife and my parents and siblings who will keep me in line if I’m not the guy I ought to be, but I just try to be authentically me and let the chips fall where they may.”
That will almost certainly be on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
The Cousins file
Name: Kirk Cousins
Age: 37
Position: Quarterback
Born: Barrington, Ill.
Grew up: Holland, Mich.
Family: Wife, Julie; two sons, Cooper and Turner
College: Michigan State
Draft: Fourth round, 2012 (No. 102 overall)
Pro career: Washington Redskins (2012-17); Minnesota Vikings (2018-23); Atlanta Falcons (2024-25); Las Vegas Raiders (2026-)
Career stats: 3,934-5,899, 66.7 percent, 44,700 yards, 298 touchdowns, 131 interceptions, 96.8 rating
