Okay, so we have to talk about this. You’ve seen the meme, right? The one where Kirk Cousins is staring into the middle distance, and someone captioned it “Great Clips Kirk.” It’s everywhere. And now, a very specific, very questionable question is burning in your brain: How much does Great Clips pay Kirk Cousins?
Well, grab your coffee, and let’s untangle this glorious mess. Spoiler: the answer is way more complicated than you think. And it involves a LOT of zeroes.
The short, boring answer (sorry)
Great Clips doesn’t pay Kirk Cousins a salary. He’s not clocking in, clipping coupons, or sweeping hair off the floor. I know, disappointing, right? You wanted to picture him in a smock with a nametag.
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Instead, it’s a sponsorship deal. A partnership. A beautiful, slightly bizarre marriage of Vikings quarterback and bargain haircut chain. He gets paid for appearing in their ads and being the unofficial face of “looks good, kept cheap.”
So how much money are we talking?
Nobody outside of Cousins’ accountant and Great Clips’ marketing team knows the exact number. But we can guess. And guessing is fun. Think about his NFL salary—he’s made over $300 million from football alone. This isn’t a side hustle for him.
Industry whispers say a deal like this for a mid-level celebrity athlete is probably $500,000 to $1 million per year. Maybe. For Cousins? It could be even less. He’s not exactly selling watches or perfume. He’s selling $12 haircuts.
The real value isn't cash
Here’s the secret: Great Clips pays Cousins mostly in exposure and equity. Seriously. Instead of a giant check, they might give him a tiny ownership stake in the franchise. Or a lifetime supply of free haircuts. You think he pays $12 for a trim? Absolutely not.
He gets paid in vibes. “I’m just a regular guy who makes $40 million a year, but I go to Great Clips!” is the message. It’s a masterclass in low-risk marketing.
But is it a good deal for him?
Let’s be real. Kirk Cousins could walk into any barbershop in America and get a cut for free. He’s Kirk Cousins! But Great Clips gives him something better than money: relatability. In a league full of flashy endorsements, he’s the guy who says “I go to the strip mall haircut place.”
NFL's Kirk Cousins Brings Photo of Himself to Great Clips for Haircut
Is that worth a few hundred thousand dollars a year? For his brand? Absolutely. Plus, the memes are priceless. You can’t buy that kind of organic buzz. The internet has made him a folk hero for being aggressively average about his hair.
What about the free haircuts?
Okay, so he definitely gets free haircuts. That’s a given. But here’s the kicker: he probably gets a frequent customer card that’s already fully punched. You know, buy 10 cuts, get the 11th free? His card is gold-plated and reads “Kirk.”
Do you think he actually sits in the chair? Or does a stylist fly to his mansion? I bet he has a dedicated “Great Clips Mobile Unit” that follows him. “Do you want the fade, or the $40-million-dollar-man special?”
Wait, does he even get a discount?
I’ve seen the rumors. Some people swear he gets a 20% employee discount on hair products. Shampoo, gel, the works. Can you imagine Kirk Cousins digging through his wallet for a discount card? “I’m with corporate, Karen.” It’s beautiful.
No, they don’t make him sweep. Stop asking. But I bet he leaves a very generous tip. Probably a $100 bill. Because he’s Kirk, and he’s contractually obligated to seem nice.
Let’s do some math (badly)
Assume Great Clips pays him $750,000 a year. That’s less than 0.003% of his career earnings. That’s like you or me finding a quarter in the couch. It’s nothing to him.
NFL's Kirk Cousins Brings Photo of Himself to Great Clips for Haircut
But for Great Clips? They get a quarterback who is on TV every Sunday, yelling “YOU LIKE THAT?” while sporting a perfectly average hairline. His name is in the news constantly. The ROI is insane.
What about the bathroom breaks?
This is the part nobody talks about. Does his contract cover bathroom breaks during commercial shoots? Is there a “pee clause”? I imagine his agent fought hard for it. “Kirk needs access to a clean toilet, and it must be after the haircut, not before.”
Honestly, I think he just gets paid to exist while looking like he just walked out of a Great Clips. Which, let’s face it, most of us do. He’s our patron saint of “good enough.”
The final verdict
So, how much does Great Clips pay Kirk Cousins? Enough to not care. But not enough to stop working. It’s a silly, fun deal that makes everyone smile. He doesn’t need the money, but he takes the free clippers.
And honestly? Good for him. It’s the most honest endorsement in sports. He’s not pretending to be fancy. He’s just Kirk, getting a fade, and cashing a check. You like that? You like that?
Now go get your own $12 haircut. And imagine Kirk’s face in the mirror. It’s the closest you’ll ever get to being an NFL quarterback.