Sportsnaut
Cooper Kupp is set to play in the second Super Bowl of his NFL career. Though, this time it will be as a member of the Seattle Seahawks rather than the Los Angeles Rams, with whom he won the Super Bowl. He was even named Super Bowl MVP after recording eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns.
However, if Kupp had it his way, he’d still be a member of the Rams, who made him a third-round pick and the 69th overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. Yet, once the 2024 season ended, the Rams made it clear that Kupp’s services were no longer wanted in Los Angeles.
Once the Rams made the decision to move on from Kupp, things didn’t just end there. According to Kupp, things between him and the Rams “Weren’t in a good place”.
Furthermore, The Athletic‘s Mike Silver reports that instead of trying to negotiate a reduced salary for the then-31 year-old receiver, the Rams recommended that Kupp retire from the NFL. If that wasn’t a low enough blow for the former All-Pro, Kupp believes that the team even went out of its way to recommend that other teams only offer him a veteran minimum salary.
Their belief was that Kupp’s age and injury history meant a steep decline in performance was coming. While Kupp did produce nearly a career-low with 593 yards (previous career-low was 566 yards in eight games in 2018), he just played a key factor in the Seahawks clinching a Super Bowl berth.
In other words, Kupp got the last laugh, and it likely felt even better that it came against his former team, one that greatly disrespected him on his way out the door.
Related: NFL Power Rankings Before the Super Bowl: Top 2026 NFL Draft Target for Each Team
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