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The journey to Minnesota

How the Kirk Cousins and John DeFilippo union came to pass:

January 2012: Current Vikings QB coach Kevin Stefanski, then the team's assistant QB coach, works with Cousins and Russell Wilson, among others, while coaching the North team at the Senior Bowl.

February 2012: DeFilippo, in his second stint as Raiders QB coach, meets Cousins at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

April 28, 2012: Washington takes Cousins 102nd overall.

March 1, 2016: The Eagles, after hiring DeFilippo as their QB coach, reportedly show interest in Cousins, but the Redskins place the franchise tag on the QB. The Eagles then sign Sam Bradford to a contract extension and draft Carson Wentz.

Sept. 3, 2016: Four days after Teddy Bridgewater tears multiple knee ligaments in a non-contact injury, the Vikings trade for Bradford.

Feb. 28, 2017: The Redskins use the franchise tag on Cousins for a second time.

March 31, 2017: The Vikings sign Case Keenum, giving them three QBs who will become free agents after 2017.

Jan. 21, 2017: The Eagles beat the Vikings 38-7 in the NFC Championship Game.

Feb. 4, 2018: The Eagles win Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium, days after the Redskins trade for Alex Smith and Cousins scouts out the Twin Cities, and the Vikings show interest in talking to DeFilippo to replace Pat Shurmur.

Feb. 8, 2018: The Vikings hire DeFilippo as their new offensive coordinator.

March 14, 2018: Cousins lands in the Twin Cities for his first free-agent visit.

March 15, 2018: The Vikings sign Cousins to a three-year, $84 million fully guaranteed contract.

BEN GOESSLING