Packed into Target Field along with 38,450 fans for the Twins’ first playoff victory in 19 years was Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins and his family.
Normally, a high-profile person like Cousins would be in a luxury suite, sectioned off from the blue-collar folks jammed in plastic seats that cost dozens or maybe hundreds of dollars. Kind of like how Taylor Swift might be at U.S. Bank Stadium watching boy wonder Travis Kelce and the Chiefs play Cousins and the Vikings on Sunday.
But that’s not how the van-driving, Kohl’s-shopping, bedtime-story-reading all-American dad Kirk Cousins rolls. Kirk was sitting amongst the masses down the third baseline in the 100 level for Tuesday’s playoff game between the Twins and Blue Jays.
“I didn’t realize how quickly the transition was from regular season right into the playoffs. So, while we were sitting there, my wife and I noticed the game was right this afternoon,” Cousins said Wednesday when asked about his day at the ballpark.
“Our boys nap in the afternoon, earlier in the afternoon, so night games are tough for us because they’re in bed by then. So we thought, ‘It’s perfect timing. We can bring them after their nap.’ It’s great, these day games. So we just bought tickets online, last minute and made our way. It was awesome. I kept sunglasses on and a hat, tried to blend in. Each inning I could tell word was getting around the section. But it was great. A lot of Vikings fans. A lot of Twins fans, obviously. It was a lot of fun.”
Tuesdays, typically an off day for NFL players, wound up being the perfect timing for Cousins, wife Julie and two boys to make it to the stadium. “They loved it,” Cousins said.
“Ate a lot of peanuts. A lot of cracker jacks,” Cousins joked. “I was trying to teach my older son about the game. It was one of those moments where I was like ‘I’m really doing this. I’m at a pro baseball game, sitting next to my 6-year-old son trying to teach him about the game.’ This is what my dad did with me. It was a lot of fun.”
Choosing to go out in public as a high-profile athlete, presumably, is never an easy decision and one that Kirk mulled over before purchasing the tickets.
“At first I was like, ‘Do I want to drive in the city, put on a disguise?'” And I thought, ‘Yeah, let’s do it. It’s the playoffs and I know I’ll look back and be so glad we did.’ And I was. And I am,” he said.
“It was awesome,” he continued. “Just the energy. We were walking through the concourse, we got there a little bit late, walking through the concourse as Royce [Lewis] hit the first home run and the place just erupted. I looked at my wife and said ‘Is this what U.S. Bank [Stadium] is like when we hit a touchdown to Justin [Jefferson]?’ She said, ‘Yeah, pretty much.’ I said, ‘This is great energy. I love this.’ So it was also cool just to be on the other side of it. I’m used to being the one on the field. To be the one in the stands you kind of see it from someone else’s perspective. Kind of realize how these fans are just dying to get behind you and cheer for you. You want to give them something to get excited about. So it was good perspective to have.”
Lewis was a guest during Vikings training camp in early August and Cousins recalls meeting the young Twins star with his teammates.
“Dean Lowry is a huge baseball fan and Najee Harris as well,” Cousins recalled. “They really know their stuff so I get all my updates from them. Dean made the point that ever since Royce came to practice he’s been mashing. So, we do as Vikings want to take credit for Royce’s recent play. Obviously a tremendous hitter, tremendous player but if he’s hot right now we’ll take all the credit.”
