August 26, 2025 • 8 mins
# From Underrated to Unstoppable: Cooper Kupp's Extraordinary NFL Journey
Join us for an inspiring deep dive into Cooper Kupp's remarkable rise from overlooked college prospect to NFL superstar. In this episode of Biography Flash, we trace Kupp's football journey from his family's NFL roots through his record-shattering career at Eastern Washington University, where he rewrote the FCS record books despite minimal recruitment attention.
Discover how Kupp overcame doubts about his abilities to become one of the NFL's elite receivers with the Los Angeles Rams, culminating in his historic 2021 "Triple Crown" season and Super Bowl MVP performance. We explore his incredible chemistry with quarterback Matthew Stafford, his resilience through injuries, and his recent transition to the Seattle Seahawks in 2025.
Beyond the statistics, learn about Kupp's character, faith, family life with college sweetheart Anna, and the work ethic that transformed him from an underestimated talent to one of football's most respected players. This episode offers valuable insights for sports fans and anyone who appreciates stories of perseverance and self-belief.
Don't miss this comprehensive look at how dedication and character built one of the NFL's most inspiring success stories. Subscribe now for weekly updates on Cooper Kupp's continuing journey with the Seahawks.
Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3Qs
For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
Join us for an inspiring deep dive into Cooper Kupp's remarkable rise from overlooked college prospect to NFL superstar. In this episode of Biography Flash, we trace Kupp's football journey from his family's NFL roots through his record-shattering career at Eastern Washington University, where he rewrote the FCS record books despite minimal recruitment attention.
Discover how Kupp overcame doubts about his abilities to become one of the NFL's elite receivers with the Los Angeles Rams, culminating in his historic 2021 "Triple Crown" season and Super Bowl MVP performance. We explore his incredible chemistry with quarterback Matthew Stafford, his resilience through injuries, and his recent transition to the Seattle Seahawks in 2025.
Beyond the statistics, learn about Kupp's character, faith, family life with college sweetheart Anna, and the work ethic that transformed him from an underestimated talent to one of football's most respected players. This episode offers valuable insights for sports fans and anyone who appreciates stories of perseverance and self-belief.
Don't miss this comprehensive look at how dedication and character built one of the NFL's most inspiring success stories. Subscribe now for weekly updates on Cooper Kupp's continuing journey with the Seahawks.
Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3Qs
For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Cooper Douglas Cup was born on June fifteenth, nineteen ninety three,
in Yakimo, Washington, into a notable football family. His grandfather,
Jake Cupp, was an NFL offensive lineman and a member
of the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame, while his father,
Craid Cupp, briefly played quarterback in the NFL. Growing up
in this environment, Cooper was deeply influenced by the professional
(00:33):
football world from an early age, which shaped his attitude,
work ethic, and understanding of the game. Despite his family legacy,
Cooper was not highly recruited out of Davis High School
and did not receive attention from major football programs, but
he chose to attend Eastern Washington University, determined to prove
himself on the field. At Eastern Washington, Cooper Cup quickly
(00:57):
became one of the greatest wide receivers in Football Championship
Ship Subdecision history. He started as a freshman in twenty thirteen,
capturing national attention by catching ninety three passes for one thousand,
six hundred and ninety one yards and twenty one touchdowns,
earning the Jerry Rice Award as the nation's top freshman
in the Division. Over his four year career, Cooper shattered records,
(01:19):
finishing with four hundred and twenty eight receptions, six thousand,
four hundred and sixty four receiving yards, and seventy three
touchdown catches, all new Football Championship Subdivision marks. Beyond statistics,
his on field intelligence, precise route running, and ability to
gain yards after the catch made him a standout. He
also contributed as a punk returner and even threw for
(01:41):
four touchdowns during his collegiate career, demonstrating rare versatility. His
efforts earned him the Walter Payton Award, given to the
best offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision, as well
as four consecutive First Team All American honors. By the
time he completed his college career, major football outlets like
Eastern Western University, the Lemon Pro carry representing full blown
(02:04):
contact and no one was religious and considerable and friendly
type of honor. By the time he completed his college career,
Washington Athletics and The Spokesman Review praised the breath and
consistency of his impact, noting he had established or tied
fifteen Football Championship Subdivision, eleven Big Sky Conference and twenty
(02:24):
six Eastern Washington records. Despite his record setting achievements, Cooper
Cup was not seen as a lock for professional stardom
due to questions about his time, speed, and competition level.
Going into the NFL Draft, he was seen by many
analysts as a highly skilled, yet underappreciated talent. The Los
Angeles Rams selected Cooper in the third round of the
(02:47):
twenty seventeen NFL Draft, which was a testament to his
impressive production and detailed football IQ. His rookie campaign in
Los Angeles proved his immediate value as he caught sixty
two passes for eight hundred sixty nine yards and five touchdowns,
quickly becoming a central figure in the Rams offense, particularly
(03:08):
excelling in crucial game situations like third downs and red
zone opportunities. His assent continued until November twenty eighteen, when
he suffered a significant setback in the form of a
torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. This injury
ended his season prematurely, but Cupp's approach to rehabilitation was
(03:28):
marked by discipline and resilience. The Rams continued on to
a Super Bowl that year without him, but he returned
in twenty nineteen even stronger. That season, Cup caught ninety
four passes for one thousand, one hundred and sixty one
yards and scored ten touchdowns, reaffirming his place as one
of the NFL's most productive receivers. His effort included a
(04:00):
two hundred twenty yard performance in a London game against
the Cincinnati Bengals, setting an NFL record for most receiving
yards in an international contest. According to the National Football
League's own records, Kuppa showed a remarkable mack for coming
through in big moments, becoming a reliable tie Reggiett for
then quarterback Jared Goff. During the challenging pandemic effected twenty
(04:22):
twenty season, cupp continued to lead the Rams in receptions
and yards, changing his jersey number from eighteen to the
number ten he wore at Eastern Washington. That same year,
the Rams made a pivotal change at quarterback, trading Jared
Goff for Matthew Stafford. The arrival of Stafford and the
maturation of head coach Sean mcgay's offense positioned Cup for
(04:45):
a historic breakout in twenty twenty one. That season, Cup
led the league in receptions receiving yards and touchdown catches,
an achievement known as the triple Crown. He became just
the fourth player since the AFL NFL merger to achieve this, feet,
joining legends like Jerry Rice. Cup's chemistry with Stafford was
(05:05):
a season long highlight, with his one hundred forty five
catches for one thousand, nine hundred and forty seven yards
and sixteen touchdowns ranking among the greatest single seasons ever
recorded by a wide receiver in LEAD history. According to
Pro Football Reference and countless Sports Analytics, Cupp posted an
NFL record of two thousand, four hundred and twenty five
(05:26):
combined receding yards in the regular season and host season.
Cup's twenty twenty one post season was particularly memorable. He
set a new NFL record with thirty three receptions in
a single playoff run, and his combination of four hundred
and seventy eight yards and six touchdowns during that stretch
trailed only Larry Fitzgerald in playoff history. In Super Bowl
(05:46):
fifty six, Cup had a pivotal game, catching eight passes
for ninety two yards and two touchdowns, earning him Super
Bowl MVP honors as the Rams triumphed over the Cincinnati Bengals.
This made him only the second wide receiver after Jerry
Rice to be named both Offensive Player of the Year
and Super Bowl MVP. After his historic campaign, Cooper Cupp
(06:07):
signed a lucrative contract extension and became one of the
most marketable faces of the league. He carried that momentum
into the twenty twenty two season with another strong start,
but unfortunately, injuries curtailed his season and led to mist gains.
Despite setbacks with his health, Cupp remained one of the
most productive wide receivers in the league, continuing to earn
(06:28):
the admiration of analysts, coaches, and teammates alike. Statistical aggregators
like stat Muse and ESPN highlighted his consistent excellence whenever healthy,
noting he reached the Pro Bowl and remained a focal
point in the Rams offense through twenty twenty three and
twenty twenty four. As of twenty twenty four with the Rams,
Cupp's career totals stood at six hundred thirty four receptions,
(06:51):
seven thousand, seven hundred and seventy six yards, and fifty
eight total touchdowns, making him one of the franchise's most
successful players. Ever, in March twenty twenty five, Cooper Cup
marked a new chapter by signing a three year contract
with the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks saw Cup as a
critical addition, and he quickly began making an impact for
his new team. In his first season in Seattle, Cupp
(07:14):
caught sixty seven passes for seven hundred and ten yards
and six touchdowns, making NFL history as the first player
to notch over six hundred catches in his first eight seasons.
The Seahawks franchise and its official press releases celebrated Cup's reliability,
route running, and leadership as he immediately became a role
model for younger teammates and a favorite of coaches. Off
(07:35):
the field, Cooper Cup is widely regarded for his humility, faith,
and community oriented mindset. He is married to his college sweetheart,
Anna Crossgrey, and together they have built a family characterized
by mutual support and resilience. Cupp has spoken often about
the pivotal Rule and a play during his injury rehabilitation
and the challenges of balancing an NFL career with personal life.
(07:57):
He is known for remaining love quiet, please dot A,
I hear what matters
Cooper Douglas Cup was born on June fifteenth, nineteen ninety three,
in Yakimo, Washington, into a notable football family. His grandfather,
Jake Cupp, was an NFL offensive lineman and a member
of the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame, while his father,
Craid Cupp, briefly played quarterback in the NFL. Growing up
in this environment, Cooper was deeply influenced by the professional
(00:33):
football world from an early age, which shaped his attitude,
work ethic, and understanding of the game. Despite his family legacy,
Cooper was not highly recruited out of Davis High School
and did not receive attention from major football programs, but
he chose to attend Eastern Washington University, determined to prove
himself on the field. At Eastern Washington, Cooper Cup quickly
(00:57):
became one of the greatest wide receivers in Football Championship
Ship Subdecision history. He started as a freshman in twenty thirteen,
capturing national attention by catching ninety three passes for one thousand,
six hundred and ninety one yards and twenty one touchdowns,
earning the Jerry Rice Award as the nation's top freshman
in the Division. Over his four year career, Cooper shattered records,
(01:19):
finishing with four hundred and twenty eight receptions, six thousand,
four hundred and sixty four receiving yards, and seventy three
touchdown catches, all new Football Championship Subdivision marks. Beyond statistics,
his on field intelligence, precise route running, and ability to
gain yards after the catch made him a standout. He
also contributed as a punk returner and even threw for
(01:41):
four touchdowns during his collegiate career, demonstrating rare versatility. His
efforts earned him the Walter Payton Award, given to the
best offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision, as well
as four consecutive First Team All American honors. By the
time he completed his college career, major football outlets like
Eastern Western University, the Lemon Pro carry representing full blown
(02:04):
contact and no one was religious and considerable and friendly
type of honor. By the time he completed his college career,
Washington Athletics and The Spokesman Review praised the breath and
consistency of his impact, noting he had established or tied
fifteen Football Championship Subdivision, eleven Big Sky Conference and twenty
(02:24):
six Eastern Washington records. Despite his record setting achievements, Cooper
Cup was not seen as a lock for professional stardom
due to questions about his time, speed, and competition level.
Going into the NFL Draft, he was seen by many
analysts as a highly skilled, yet underappreciated talent. The Los
Angeles Rams selected Cooper in the third round of the
(02:47):
twenty seventeen NFL Draft, which was a testament to his
impressive production and detailed football IQ. His rookie campaign in
Los Angeles proved his immediate value as he caught sixty
two passes for eight hundred sixty nine yards and five touchdowns,
quickly becoming a central figure in the Rams offense, particularly
(03:08):
excelling in crucial game situations like third downs and red
zone opportunities. His assent continued until November twenty eighteen, when
he suffered a significant setback in the form of a
torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. This injury
ended his season prematurely, but Cupp's approach to rehabilitation was
(03:28):
marked by discipline and resilience. The Rams continued on to
a Super Bowl that year without him, but he returned
in twenty nineteen even stronger. That season, Cup caught ninety
four passes for one thousand, one hundred and sixty one
yards and scored ten touchdowns, reaffirming his place as one
of the NFL's most productive receivers. His effort included a
(04:00):
two hundred twenty yard performance in a London game against
the Cincinnati Bengals, setting an NFL record for most receiving
yards in an international contest. According to the National Football
League's own records, Kuppa showed a remarkable mack for coming
through in big moments, becoming a reliable tie Reggiett for
then quarterback Jared Goff. During the challenging pandemic effected twenty
(04:22):
twenty season, cupp continued to lead the Rams in receptions
and yards, changing his jersey number from eighteen to the
number ten he wore at Eastern Washington. That same year,
the Rams made a pivotal change at quarterback, trading Jared
Goff for Matthew Stafford. The arrival of Stafford and the
maturation of head coach Sean mcgay's offense positioned Cup for
(04:45):
a historic breakout in twenty twenty one. That season, Cup
led the league in receptions receiving yards and touchdown catches,
an achievement known as the triple Crown. He became just
the fourth player since the AFL NFL merger to achieve this, feet,
joining legends like Jerry Rice. Cup's chemistry with Stafford was
(05:05):
a season long highlight, with his one hundred forty five
catches for one thousand, nine hundred and forty seven yards
and sixteen touchdowns ranking among the greatest single seasons ever
recorded by a wide receiver in LEAD history. According to
Pro Football Reference and countless Sports Analytics, Cupp posted an
NFL record of two thousand, four hundred and twenty five
(05:26):
combined receding yards in the regular season and host season.
Cup's twenty twenty one post season was particularly memorable. He
set a new NFL record with thirty three receptions in
a single playoff run, and his combination of four hundred
and seventy eight yards and six touchdowns during that stretch
trailed only Larry Fitzgerald in playoff history. In Super Bowl
(05:46):
fifty six, Cup had a pivotal game, catching eight passes
for ninety two yards and two touchdowns, earning him Super
Bowl MVP honors as the Rams triumphed over the Cincinnati Bengals.
This made him only the second wide receiver after Jerry
Rice to be named both Offensive Player of the Year
and Super Bowl MVP. After his historic campaign, Cooper Cupp
(06:07):
signed a lucrative contract extension and became one of the
most marketable faces of the league. He carried that momentum
into the twenty twenty two season with another strong start,
but unfortunately, injuries curtailed his season and led to mist gains.
Despite setbacks with his health, Cupp remained one of the
most productive wide receivers in the league, continuing to earn
(06:28):
the admiration of analysts, coaches, and teammates alike. Statistical aggregators
like stat Muse and ESPN highlighted his consistent excellence whenever healthy,
noting he reached the Pro Bowl and remained a focal
point in the Rams offense through twenty twenty three and
twenty twenty four. As of twenty twenty four with the Rams,
Cupp's career totals stood at six hundred thirty four receptions,
(06:51):
seven thousand, seven hundred and seventy six yards, and fifty
eight total touchdowns, making him one of the franchise's most
successful players. Ever, in March twenty twenty five, Cooper Cup
marked a new chapter by signing a three year contract
with the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks saw Cup as a
critical addition, and he quickly began making an impact for
his new team. In his first season in Seattle, Cupp
(07:14):
caught sixty seven passes for seven hundred and ten yards
and six touchdowns, making NFL history as the first player
to notch over six hundred catches in his first eight seasons.
The Seahawks franchise and its official press releases celebrated Cup's reliability,
route running, and leadership as he immediately became a role
model for younger teammates and a favorite of coaches. Off
(07:35):
the field, Cooper Cup is widely regarded for his humility, faith,
and community oriented mindset. He is married to his college sweetheart,
Anna Crossgrey, and together they have built a family characterized
by mutual support and resilience. Cupp has spoken often about
the pivotal Rule and a play during his injury rehabilitation
and the challenges of balancing an NFL career with personal life.
(07:57):
He is known for remaining love quiet, please dot A,
I hear what matters
Popular Podcasts
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com