Raiders QB has ‘dad vibe energy’: Kirko Chainz, TD celly, In-N-Out spread joy

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins isn’t shy about his propensity for stealing jokes, and he’s certainly not afraid to go back to a bit that has proven successful.

He was more than happy to play the hits during Sunday’s flight home from a 38-33 victory over the Jets that snapped a four-game losing streak.

“It’s been a while,” he said of slipping back into his infamous “Kirko Chainz” alter ego on the plane for the first time with the Raiders in visuals that surfaced on social media. “I think probably the longer the flight, the more likely the chains, and it was a long one coming back. It was a great win, and so we had fun with it.”

It wasn’t long after he landed back in Las Vegas that video of Cousins in character, shirtless and adorned with an excessive amount of jewelry supplied by his teammates, had gone viral.

Much of the bling belonged to star defensive end Maxx Crosby.

“It was incredible,” Crosby said. “Kirk is the man. He’s a great leader, great locker room presence. One of the funnier dudes you’ll ever meet. He’s probably the biggest dad vibe energy on the planet, but at the same time he knows how to have fun and be relatable to the guys.

“He’s a legend.”

He also knows his strengths. Cousins may not be the most original creator of content or jokes, but he knows what works with the audience.

Not only did he know the Kirko Chainz gimmick would play, but also he figured the touchdown celebration he had been working on with running back Dylan Laube would also go over well.

That’s why he was more than happy to bust out the “Wellness Celebration” after scoring a touchdown Sunday.

“I’m just a megaphone. In college, I was known for hearing a good joke in the locker room in one corner, and then I would go run over to the other corner and tell the same joke as if it was my joke,” he said. “It actually got to a point where guys are like, ‘You’re a joke stealer. You can’t do that.’ So, anyways, I guess I kind of stole that one, but I did my part.”

Laube, who was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week on Wednesday, was more than happy to help, though he stopped short of taking full credit.

“It was a discussion,” Laube laughed. “I think I perfected it, but he’s been practicing for weeks now and he said if he scores a rushing TD, he was going to pull it out.

“I showed him the technique. But he’s been getting better and better with it.”

It’s all part of helping show his teammates how to play the game with joy, which was the subject of a speech he made to his teammates last week after being asked by coach Klint Kubiak to share a few words in the midst of the losing streak.

“This league and the way this league works can steal your joy really quick if you let it. And it’s done it to me many times,” he said. “What I was trying to communicate to the team is, ‘Guys, it’s a daily battle for me to come in here and have joy because of the way that this league beats you up in the comparison factor.’ And so, I said, ‘Don’t let this league steal your joy, and let’s help each other and how we do that.’ And it’s a daily battle.”

It seemed to work.

Laube said he was a fan of Kirko Chainz from when he first saw the character while playing in college and appreciated getting to see him in person.

Cornerback Eric Stokes was impressed with how much gold Cousins put on.

“It was funny,” he said. “But then again, a lot of people were saying, ‘Oh man, the chains, it wasn’t that many chains.’ Well, if you see his wrist, he had a whole lot on his wrist.

“I threw a little something on the wrist. I was just happy for him. We got the dub. Five-hour flight back home. Good look for him. Good little laugh on the way back.”

Then it was time to eat.

Cousins continued the tradition of post-victory trips to In-N-Out Burger with a group that grew to more than a dozen teammates once the flight landed back in Las Vegas.

“We lost four in a row, so it’s been a while,” Cousins said. “But man, as the weeks grew and the losses mounted, the In-N-Out started sounding better and better. So, we knew, ‘Hey, if we win this game, let’s all land and let’s all go to In-N-Out.’”

Cousins foots the bill for the group, which he pointed out is much more cost-effective than a steakhouse.

“After Week 3, more guys started showing up,” Laube said. “We had lost a couple, but he kind of announced that if we beat the Jets I’m buying everyone In-N-Out. He said it again on the plane, so we all showed up.”

Laube said between the celebration dance, the return of Kirko Chainz and the In-N-Out trip, Cousins continues to set an example for keeping the game fun.

“Seeing him enjoy every day in Year 15 has been big and it’s not just him saying it,” Laube said. “You see it every day in practice. This guy is 38 and still bringing the energy of a kid. It’s cool seeing it from your QB. It’s special. He’s a great guy and a great captain. He’s an unreal person.

“He loves the attention, too.”

Contact Adam Hill at [email protected]. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.