Atlanta’s new franchise quarterback told one of the greatest players in NBA history that he doesn’t want to end his career in a similar fashion.

At 35 years old, with a dozen years in the NFL to his name, Kirk Cousins knows he has more football in his past than his future. He hopes the remaining time he has in the game is spent entirely with the Atlanta Falcons, whom he joined this offseason on a four-year, $180 million contract, and isn’t shy about telling people, including one of the most famous athletes of this generation.

During his appearance on The Big Podcast with Shaq, Cousins told the four-time NBA champion he not only wants to remain a Falcon until his playing days are done, but that he wants to avoid the end-of-career arc many of Diesel’s biggest fans fail to mention when discussing his overall legacy.

I want this to be my final stop… no offense, but I don’t want to go play for the Suns and Celtics at the end. I want to finish with the Heat, if you will, and be done. That’s really my plan… my boys are six and five. They won’t remember that I played for Washington; they’ll barely remember I played in Minnesota. They’re going to remember I played for the Falcons, and I want those to be good memories.

The Big Aristotle spent the first 14-and-a-half seasons of his illustrious basketball career with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, and Miami Heat before joining the Phoenix Suns in Feb. 2008.

He made the All-NBA Third Team as a Sun during the 2008-09 campaign, but set career-lows in point, rebound, block and assist per-game averages in successive years as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics prior to retirement.

Cousins’ Actions Will Speak Louder Than His Words

The veteran QB must recover from his Achilles injury and play well to accomplish his goal

Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Every athlete aspires to go out at the top of their game. Few who play a lengthy career are actually able to do so, especially in the NFL. Calvin Johnson and Barry Sanders come to mind, but both retired following their age-30 season. Peyton Manning did win a second title his final year. However, the man who graced the gridiron in Super Bowl 50 hardly resembled a five-time MVP.

Cousins doesn’t have the postseason success Shaq or Manning enjoyed during their Hall of Fame runs, as he boasts just one playoff win in three appearances. He’s aspiring to walk the path John Elway, a Gold Jacket recipient in his own right, crafted to end his playing career. Elway earned seven Pro-Bowl nods and claimed MVP honors in 1987 before winning Super Bowls 32 and 33 and retiring afterward.

The Falcons aren’t among the biggest contenders for Super Bowl 59, slotting in a tie for the 13th-best odds on BetMGM. They are the current the betting favorite for NFC South supremacy, though. If Cousins’ remaining rehab goes well and Atlanta is able to make that projection come true, there’s no telling how far they could wind up going when the time comes.

Source: The Big Podcast with Shaq