Kupp is the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision career leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. He also holds the NFL record for most receiving yards in a combined season and postseason, posting 2,425 yards in the 2021 season.
Kupp attended and graduated from Davis High School in Yakima in 2012 where he was a two-sport athlete in football and basketball for the Pirates athletic teams.[3] A two-way All-State selection, he earned first-team 4A All-State honors as a defensive back and honorable mention accolades as a wide receiver from the Associated Press, as selected by sportswriters and broadcasters. Kupp was also named by the Seattle Times as a "White Chip" selection, as one of the top 100 prospects in the state of Washington.[4]
Kupp was a unanimous first-team All-Columbia Basin Big Nine League wide receiver and defensive back at Davis. He finished his senior season with 60 receptions for 1,059 yards (17.7 per catch) and 18 touchdowns and scored 22 total touchdowns to set a school record. Kupp also had 11 rushes for 122 yards and two touchdowns as he helped Davis come one game away from a berth in the Washington State 4A Playoffs.[4]
Kupp finished his prep career without a single college football scholarship offer[5] despite recording 110 catches for 2,100 yards.[4] Three weeks after the final game of his senior season, he received his first scholarship offer to play for Eastern Washington, followed shortly thereafter by an offer from Idaho State.[5]
Kupp was also a three-year letter-winner in basketball. He led Davis to a 23–2 record and won the State 4A Tournament championship during his senior year for the Pirates.[4]
College career
Kupp attended Eastern Washington University, where he signed to play for coach Beau Baldwin's Eastern Washington Eagles football team in 2012 and redshirted that year. Kupp would eventually be named Eastern's Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year.[4]
2013 season
In 2013, Kupp entered his redshirt freshman year as a starter at wide receiver. He finished the season having set numerous single-season school and national receiving records at the Football Championship Subdivision Level. Kupp has set national freshman records for receiving yards (1,691), total touchdown catches (21), consecutive games with a touchdown catch (14), and receptions (93).[6][7]
On November 26, 2013, Kupp was named to the All-Big Sky Conference First-team as a unanimous selection and was also the recipient of the conference's first-ever Freshman of the Year Award.[8]
On December 16, 2013, Kupp was named the recipient of the 2013 Jerry Rice Award, given to the top freshman player in the FCS. Kupp is the first Eastern Washington player and the first player from the Big Sky Conference to receive the award.[9]
On January 9, 2014, Kupp was honored by the College Football Performance Awards with the 2013 FCS Wide Receiver Award. Kupp is the second straight Eagles wide receiver to win the award, following Brandon Kaufman, who won the 2012 award.[14]
2014 season
Kupp finished his sophomore season with 104 catches for 1,431 yards and 16 touchdowns in 13 games.[15] He was named a First-team All-American by the AFCA, AP, and TSN for the second consecutive season. He was also named to the first-team All-Big Sky for the second straight year as a wide receiver while also earning third-team honors as punt returner. Kupp finished 18th in the 2014 Walter Payton Award voting.[16]
2015 season
In the 2015 season, Kupp finished the season with 114 catches for 1,642 yards and 19 touchdowns in 11 games.[17] He broke the Big Sky single-season record for catches with 114, a total that ranks ninth most all-time in FCS single-season history. Kupp was named a first-team All-Big Sky wide receiver for the third-straight year and was also named the league's Offensive Most Valuable Player. He was just the second wide receiver to be named Big Sky Offensive MVP in the last 42 years. Kupp also won the Walter Payton Award, becoming the third Eastern Washington player to win the award and only the second wide receiver to win, after Brian Finneran of Villanova in 1997.[18]
2016 season
On November 30, 2015, Kupp announced that he would return for his senior season after speculation that he was considering entering the 2016 NFL draft.[19] He was poised to break nearly every major FCS career receiving record mark during his final collegiate season. In the 2016 season, Kupp finished with 117 receptions for 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns.[20] At the end of his college career, Kupp's 428 receptions and 6,464 yards were both the most in FCS history, passing marks previously held by Terrell Hudgins, who had 395 receptions and 5,250 yards playing for Elon University from 2006 to 2009. Moreover, Kupp's 6,464 yards eclipsed Scott Pingel's all-division NCAA record set in 1999, which was accomplished at the Division III level of competition.[21] Kupp's 73 receiving touchdowns also rank first in FCS history, passing the 58 touchdowns that New Hampshire'sDavid Ball caught from 2003 to 2006.[22]
Second-team All-Big Sky Conference Punt Returner (2016)[35]
Third-team All-Big Sky Conference Punt Returner (2014)
Professional career
Pre-draft
Kupp attended the 2017 Senior Bowl and made two receptions for 14 yards for the North, who lost 16–15 to the South.[36] Kupp's performance at the Senior Bowl elevated his draft stock.[37] NFL analyst Bucky Brooks stated Kupp was the top performer at the Senior Bowl. He attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and completed all the combine drills except for the bench press.
On March 28, 2017, Kupp opted to participate in Eastern Washington's pro day along with Jordan West, Shaq Hill, Samson Ebukam, Kendrick Bourne, and Miquiyah Zamora.[38] He attempted all of the combine drills but opted to skip the bench press and broad jump. Kupp shortened his time in the short shuttle to 6.53s and performed positional drills for scouts and team representatives. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Kupp was projected to be a second or third-round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts.[39] He was ranked the eighth-best wide receiver in the draft by NFLDraftScout.com. Steve Smith Sr. ranked him as the best wide receiver in the draft class.[40]
The Los Angeles Rams selected Kupp in the third round (69th overall) of the 2017 NFL draft.[43] He was the seventh wide receiver drafted in 2017 and became the second highest pick in Eastern Washington's school history, only behind Michael Roos who was taken by the Tennessee Titans in the 2005 NFL draft (second round, 41st overall).[44][45] Kupp was reunited with Eastern Washington teammate Samson Ebukam after the Rams selected him in the fourth round (125th overall).[46] On June 9, 2017, the Rams signed Kupp to a four-year, $3.83 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $954,760.[47][48][49]
Kupp made his NFL debut in the season-opening 46–9 victory over the Indianapolis Colts and recorded four receptions for 76 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff, marking the first of his career.[52] Three weeks later, Kupp had five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown in a 35–30 road victory over the Dallas Cowboys.[53] During a Week 7 33–0 shutout victory in London against the Arizona Cardinals, he caught four passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.[54]
Through the first seven games of the season, Kupp led the Rams in red-zone targets with 11 and developed as Goff's top receiver in the red zone and third downs. Kupp was fourth in the entire NFL in red zone targets behind leaders Davante Adams, Larry Fitzgerald, and Dez Bryant who were tied with 20 red zone targets each.[55] During a Week 9 51–17 victory over the New York Giants, Kupp made his first career NFL start, catching three passes for 54 yards.[56] Three weeks later against the New Orleans Saints, Kupp posted his first career game with over 100 yards, where he finished with 116 as the Rams won 26–20.[57] During a Week 14 43–35 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, he finished with five receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown.[58] By December, Kupp was a full-time starter at wide receiver and ended his rookie season in 2017 with 62 receptions for 869 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games and six starts.[59]
Kupp was named a starting wide receiver in 2018 alongside Robert Woods and offseason acquisition Brandin Cooks.[63] During a Week 4 38–31 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, Kupp caught nine passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns (all single-game highs), including a career-best 70-yard scoring reception.[64] In the next game against the Denver Broncos, he sustained a knee injury and was carted off the field. Though Kupp returned to the field in the third quarter of the Rams' 23–20 victory, he was pulled out of the lineup and missed the next two games.[65] During the fourth quarter of a Week 10 36–31 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, Kupp went down with a non-contact injury. An MRI the following day confirmed that he tore his ACL, prematurely ending his season.[66][67]
Kupp finished the season with 40 receptions for 566 yards and six touchdowns through eight games and starts.[68] Without Kupp, the Rams reached Super Bowl LIII where they lost 13–3 to the New England Patriots.[69]
Kupp returned from his injury in time for the Rams' season opener against the Carolina Panthers. Over the first seven games of the season, he had at least 100 yards in four games and scored four total touchdowns.[70] During a 24–10 Week 8 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in London, Kupp caught seven receptions for 220 yards and a touchdown, marking the first time in his NFL career where he had over 200 yards in a single game.[71] Kupp's performance set an NFL record most receiving yards in an international NFL game.[72] From Weeks 13–17, Kupp scored a receiving touchdown in five consecutive games.
Kupp finished the 2019 season with 94 receptions for 1,161 yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games and 14 starts.[70] He led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Kupp and his teammate Robert Woods gave the Rams a 1,000-yard receiving duo.[73] Kupp's ten receiving touchdowns tied with Mark Andrews for the second most in the NFL in 2019.[74] He was ranked 89th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020.[75]
After wearing number 18 for his first three seasons in the NFL, Kupp switched jersey numbers to number 10, his collegiate number at Eastern Washington.[76] On September 12, 2020, Kupp signed a three-year, $48 million contract extension with the Rams,[77] including $35.1 million guaranteed.[78]
Kupp was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Rams on December 29, 2020, which forced him out of Week 17.[79] He was activated on January 6, 2021.[80] Kupp played in the Wild Card Round as the Rams defeated the Seahawks on the road by a score of 30–20, but he suffered a knee injury, which kept him out of the Divisional Round to the Green Bay Packers, which the Rams lost on the road by a score of 32–18.[81]
Kupp finished the 2020 season with 92 receptions for 974 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games and 12 starts. He recorded three games with at least 100 yards.[82] Kupp led the team in receptions and receiving yards for the season.[83]
Kupp's performance throughout the 2021 season was one of the greatest statistical receiving seasons in NFL history. With the addition of Matthew Stafford in the offseason, Kupp started the season on a high note.[84] Over the season's first three games, Kupp totaled 25 receptions for 367 yards and five touchdowns in victories for the Rams. Included in that stretch was a season-high 163-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Colts.[85] Kupp was held to season lows in receptions (five) and yardage (64) in the Rams' 37–20 loss to the visiting Cardinals, but he bounced back with seven receptions for 92 yards in a 26–17 road victory over the Seahawks.[86][87] In Weeks 6–7, Kupp had nine receptions for 130 yards and ten receptions for 156 yards while getting two touchdowns in both games against the Giants and Detroit Lions.[88][89] Kupp ended the season with a very productive six-game stretch from Weeks 13–18, averaging 118.3 yards per game and six total touchdowns.[90]
In the Rams' 12–5 season, Kupp set numerous franchise single-season receiving records, which resulted in Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro honors.[91][92][93] He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for both September and October.[94][95] Kupp's 145 receptions for 1,947 yards were both franchise records, and his 16 touchdowns finished second to Elroy Hirsch's 17 in 1951.[96] For the 2021 season, Kupp earned the receiving triple crown, becoming the first player since Steve Smith Sr. in 2005 to lead the league in receptions, receiving touchdowns, and receiving yards.[97][98] Kupp's 1,947 yards finished second in NFL history to Calvin Johnson's 1,964 in 2012, while his 145 receptions were second only to Michael Thomas' 149 in 2019.[99]
Kupp with the Rams in 2023
In the Wild Card Round against the Cardinals, Kupp had five receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown in the 34–11 victory.[100] In the Divisional Round, he recorded nine receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown in the narrow 30–27 road victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[101] Kupp had a pivotal 44-yard reception to help set up the Rams' game-winning field goal.[102] In the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers, he recorded 11 receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns in the 20–17 victory, bringing the Rams back to the Super Bowl for the second time since 2018.[103] In Super Bowl LVI, against the Bengals, Kupp scored his first career Super Bowl touchdown, an 11-yard reception. In the fourth quarter game-winning drive, Kupp ran for seven yards on a critical 4th-and-1 play, and he and quarterback Matthew Stafford connected on multiple successful catches, including the game-winning touchdown which led to his selection as Super Bowl MVP.[104][105] Kupp's 33 receptions over four playoff games set a new NFL record for a single postseason, while his 478 yards and six touchdowns ranked second in league playoff history behind Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.[106][107] He was ranked fourth by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.[108]
On June 9, 2022, Kupp signed a three-year, $80.1 million contract extension to remain with the Rams throughout 2026. The contract includes a $20 million signing bonus and $75 million guaranteed.[109]
In the NFL Kickoff Game against the Buffalo Bills, Kupp caught 13 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown in the 31–10 loss.[110] In the next game, he had 11 receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns in the 31–27 victory over the Falcons.[111] Two weeks later, Kupp recorded 14 receptions for 122 yards in a 24–9 road loss to the 49ers.[112] During a Week 5 22–10 loss to the Cowboys, he had seven receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown.[113]
During a Week 10 27–17 loss to the Cardinals, Kupp suffered a high ankle sprain, which required surgery.[114] He was placed on injured reserve on November 15, 2022.[115] Kupp finished the 2022 season with 75 receptions for 812 yards and six touchdowns in nine games and starts as the Rams finished with a 5–12 record.[116][117] He was ranked 47th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.[118]
On September 9, 2023, Kupp was placed on injured reserve to begin the season due to a lingering hamstring injury.[119] He was activated off injured reserve on October 7, ahead of the Rams' Week 5 game against the Eagles.[120] In his return against the Eagles, he had eight receptions for 118 yards in the loss.[121] In the following game, a victory over the Cardinals, he had seven receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown.[122] In Week 14, in a close loss to the Ravens, he had eight receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown.[123] In Week 15, a victory over the Commanders, he had eight receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown.[124] In the 2023 season, he started in the 12 regular season games he appeared in. He had 59 receptions for 737 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns as the Rams finished 10–7 and made the postseason.[125][126] He was ranked 69th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2024.[127]
Kupp opened the season against the Detroit Lions with 14 receptions, tying his career high, along with 110 yards and a touchdown as the Rams lost in overtime.[128] In Week 2 against the Cardinals, Kupp sustained an ankle injury during the second quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.[129] After being held out for four weeks, Kupp returned in Week 8 against the Minnesota Vikings and caught five passes for 51 yards and a touchdown in the Rams' 30–20 victory.[130] A week later, Kupp caught 11 passes for 104 yards in L.A.'s 26-20 overtime victory at Seattle. He also surpassed 600 receptions and moved into third place on the Rams franchise's all-time receptions list behind Isaac Bruce (942) and Torry Holt (869). Two weeks later, Kupp caught six receptions for 106 yards and two TD receptions in a 28-22 win at New England. The pair of scores vaulted Kupp past Hall of Famer Elroy Hirsch to third place for team career receiving TDs behind Bruce (84) and Holt (74). In a Week 15 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, Kupp was held without a catch for only the third time in his professional career, a streak that had reached 69 consecutive games.
NCAA FCS career leader in receiving touchdowns (73) and receptions (428)[5]
Personal life
Kupp is the son of former NFL quarterback Craig Kupp, a fifth-round draft pick by the New York Giants in 1990 out of Pacific Lutheran University who played for the Phoenix Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys in 1991.[138] His younger brother, Ketner, also played at Eastern Washington and was signed by the Los Angeles Rams as a free agent in 2019, participating in training camp and in preseason games, but was released during the final roster cutdown.[139]
Kupp developed a close friendship with former Rams quarterback Jared Goff while living with him for a few weeks after the draft. They practiced on their own time together, watched films, studied defensive schemes, and learned the playbook.[140][141]
Kupp has been described as a devout Christian.[142][138] As a senior in high school, Kupp met his girlfriend and future wife Anna Croskrey.[143] They got married in June 2015 and have three sons.[144] The family lives in Westlake Village, California during the season and Wilsonville, Oregon during the offseason.[145][146]
Jerry Lee Rice is an American former professional football wide receiver who played for 20 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He won three Super Bowl titles with the San Francisco 49ers before two shorter stints at the end of his career with the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. For his accomplishments and numerous records, Rice is widely regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in NFL history. His biography on the official Pro Football Hall of Fame website names him "the most prolific wide receiver in NFL history with staggering career totals". In 1999, The Sporting News listed Rice second behind Jim Brown on its list of "Football's 100 Greatest Players". In 2010, he was chosen by NFL Network's NFL Films production The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players as the greatest player in NFL history.
Larry Darnell Fitzgerald Jr. is an American former professional football wide receiver who played 17 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2003. Fitzgerald was selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft. He is widely considered by fans, coaches and peers to be one of the greatest receivers in NFL history.
Willie Lee "Flipper" Anderson Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Los Angeles Rams (1988–1994), the Indianapolis Colts (1995), the Washington Redskins (1996), and the Denver Broncos (1997). As a Bronco, he was part of their Super Bowl XXXII championship team over the Green Bay Packers. As a Ram, he set the NFL record for most receiving yards in a game with 336 against the Saints on November 26, 1989. In his record-breaking game, Anderson accumulated 40 of those yards in overtime.
Craig Marion Kupp is an American former professional football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Phoenix Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Pacific Lutheran University.
Robert Thomas Woods is an American professional football wide receiver for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans, earning consensus All-American honors in 2011. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft. He previously played for the Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans.
Tavon Wesley Austin is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers, receiving first-team All-American honors twice and was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft.
Todd Jerome Gurley II is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, earning first-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Rams with the 10th overall pick of the 2015 NFL draft.
Amari Cooper is an American professional football wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, winning the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver and earning unanimous All-American honors in 2014. Widely considered the top wide receiver prospect of the 2015 NFL draft, Cooper was selected with the fourth overall pick by the Oakland Raiders.
Brandin Tawan Cooks is an American professional football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon State Beavers, earning consensus All-American honors. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. After three seasons with New Orleans, Cooks played one season for the New England Patriots, two seasons for the Los Angeles Rams and three with the Houston Texans before joining the Dallas Cowboys in 2023.
Michael K. Williams is an American professional football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Clemson Tigers and was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers seventh overall in the 2017 NFL draft.
Michael William Thomas Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for Ohio State and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. Thomas holds the record for the most receptions by a player in a single season with 149 in 2019. He led the league in receptions in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons, while also leading the league in yardage in the 2019 season. He was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2019.
Pharoh Cooper is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, and was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants.
Tyler Higbee is an American professional football tight end for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Western Kentucky and was drafted by the Rams in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft.
Demarcus Dontavian Robinson is an American professional football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft and won Super Bowl LIV with the team. He has also played for the Baltimore Ravens.
Joshua Reynolds is an American professional football wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas A&M and holds the school's season receiving touchdown record with 13, set in 2014. Reynolds was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft.
Cedarian DeLeon "CeeDee" Lamb is an American professional football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners where he was a consensus All-American in 2019, and was selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.
The 2021 season was the Los Angeles Rams' 84th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 85th overall, their 55th in the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second playing their home games at SoFi Stadium and their fifth under head coach Sean McVay.
The Mob Squad is a nickname that was officially used by the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League during both their last season in St. Louis and their first seasons back in Los Angeles. The nickname referred to the team's return to glory in Los Angeles under such players as Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley, Jared Goff, Cooper Kupp, and head coach Sean McVay. The naming also extends to fans of the Rams, primarily used by multiple booster clubs around Southern California.
Makea "Puka" Nacua is an American professional football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the BYU Cougars after transferring from Washington. Selected by the Rams in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft, Nacua set rookie records for receiving yards and receptions, along with being named to the Pro Bowl and as a second-team All-Pro.
↑ Alper, Josh (November 12, 2018). "Cooper Kupp tore his ACL". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
↑ Spruill, Scott (August 31, 2019). "Rams release Ketner Kupp". YakimaHerald.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
