After the Rams gave up his Super Bowl MVP, he showed them all he could offer - The Athletic

Facing his former team, Cooper Kupp came alive when it mattered most, making three key plays in Seattle's 31-27 win.

SEATTLE - To the untrained eye, he was practically invisible.

Halfway through Sunday’s NFC Championship Game between the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, Cooper Kupp — a 32-year-old wide receiver deeply invested in the outcome — was conspicuously missing from the box score, having failed to catch either of the targets that came his way.

Kupp, the Super Bowl MVP four years ago with the Rams and now playing for a bitter division rival, appeared to confirm the organizational skepticism that led Los Angeles to release him last March, a cold end to a storied eight-year run.

It's a loaded topic that embarrasses him and has been known to anger others.A month ago, the Rams' perceived disrespect for Kupp provoked a brawl near the elevator between members of the two teams' coaching staffs at the same stadium.(Don't worry, we'll get to that later.)

Following the 2024 season, the Rams casually cut ties with the former All-Pro instead of negotiating a pay cut, encouraging him to retire.Sources acknowledged that Kupp acknowledged that as free agency approached, some Los Angeles officials warned potential suitors not to pay him above the military minimum, suggesting that age and accumulating injuries caused a steep decline.

"When it ended with the Rams," Cope told me earlier this month, "we weren't in a good place."

Looking backHis former boss should know better.

Surely they know better now.

With 68,773 fans roaring non-stop and Seahawks fans cheering him on, Kupp lived up to his importance with three key plays in a 31-27 win over Seattle.The Seahawks scored their final points on Kupp's 13-yard touchdown reception, got a huge first down in the final minutes on his spectacular corkscrew catch and ended the game when he drew a defensive line penalty on the former quarterback.its Kobe Durant.

Kupp also did a lot of little things that casual observers didn't notice but his coaches and teammates appreciated.The bottom line is that without Kupp, Seattle wouldn't be in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 against the New England Patriots in Santa Clara, California.

Thanks to his clutch contributions - the Seahawks, seen and unseen, aren't done.

Admittedly, it's not a coup

After being traded to the Tennessee Titans before the 2024 season, another former Rams player, Seattle second-team All-Pro middle linebacker Ernest Jones IV, said, ``They're done with him.''(They) said, 'He's not worth it.'

Seahawks All-Pro first-team wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba said, "I know he wants to beat these guys. He doesn't show it, but I'm so excited they got it.

There's a lot to unpack, starting with the fact that Kupp was unavailable for interviews after the game, apparently leaving the stadium with his family before the locker room was opened to the media.Still, I recently spoke with him about the final months of his Rams tenure and had conversations with several league sources familiar with the situation.

Things are getting worse in L.A. When it became clear that Kupp, once a standout receiver, was overtaken in 2023 by fifth-round pick Puca Nagua, who became an instant star as Rams coach Sean McVay developed his offensive game, Kupp felt like an afterthought, facing a drastic reduction in plans to try to get him the ball.

The Rams traded Kupp in October 2024 but insisted they were only getting calls from other teams — a claim two league sources said the receiver believed was unspoken.They decided not to trade Kupp after he returned from a sprained ankle to help the Rams snap out of a 1-4 start and get back into playoff contention.But relations remained strained.

"This year has been very difficult," he told me at the end of the 2024 season.

After the Rams cut Kupp last March, he was surprised that the most powerful people in the Rams organization didn't call to thank him for his time with the team.(He later met with McVay and maintains a good relationship with his former head coach and several former teammates, including Matthew Stafford, who called Kupp on the field Sunday night and offered his condolences.)

Stafford and Kupp forever ❤️ pic.twitter.com/aT2ektMYD8

— NFL (@NFL) 26. januar 2026

According to a source familiar with his search for a new team, after Kupp entered free agency, some prospects expressed doubts about signing him because of what they heard in league circles, which they believed came from his camp.

The Seahawks eventually quieted the noise and signed Kupp to a three-year, $45 million deal at the start of free agency.He made an immediate impression, especially with Smith-Njigba, a 23-year-old nearing his prime.

"The first day he came into (in Autas), he preached about 'the process" - process over results, "Smith-njigba told me," Smith-njigba tells me Sunday still turn into a monster performance (10 catches, 153 yards, single touchdown).Our works.I can't know him enough thanks."

Many Seahawks players are equally grateful to Kupp, who has added spice to a tense rivalry between NFC West foes.

The Rams won the first meeting between the two teams in mid-November, and until a strong fourth-quarter comeback, their Thursday night game a month later in Seattle looked to be on the same path.One thing that led to Seattle's late charge happened at halftime.

Cupp's red streak late in the first half of that game killed Seattle's potential scoring drive.The aftermath of that game led to a brawl at the end of the half when the Rams and Seahawks coaches spilled out of their upstairs rooms and took the elevator down to the field level, according to several witnesses.

Eyewitnesses said that as they approached the lift, a number of Rama's assistants were discussing the miscreant in question.One offensive line coach asked which Seattle player was responsible, and when another said it was the cup, the coach smiled as if waiting for an answer.

That angered Seahawks outside linebackers coach Chris Partridge, whose angry reaction led to Rams defensive rush coordinator Drew Wilkins yelling at him.According to witnesses, Partridge was restrained by other Seahawks coaches in a crowded elevator to prevent a potential fight.

After the Seahawks coach entered the locker room, news of the incident got back to several players, many of whom were motivated to defend Kupp's honor.

"This was an incident in our locker room at halftime," one Seahawks player recalled.

After trailing by 16 points in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks rallied for overtime, capped by Sam Darnold's 2-point touchdown run by Eric Saubert.Coaches from both teams exchanged trash talk as they exited their boxes after the game.

Sunday's rubber match between the first-seeded Seahawks and the fifth-seeded Rams was just as competitive, but the elevator ride to the trainer's box started without incident.

With their season on the line, the Seahawks were happy to ride with Kupp, the second half confirmed their decision to sign him.After a quiet first half, which ended with Seattle leading 17-13, Kupp made his presence felt.

With the Seahawks leading 24-20 and facing third and 9 from their 36-yard line, Kupp made a tight catch on a low pass from Sam Darnold (25-of-36, 346 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions), which eliminated the QB's hesitation for a big game faceoff.Three plays later, Darnold threw a pass to Smith-Njigba;Kupp's great block on running back Roger McCreary helped his teammate gain a 12-yard field goal.

"He's the best wide receiver I've ever seen," marveled Seahawks wide receiver Rasheed Shahid."That's what he's done his whole career, and it's made us better."

Left tackle Charles Cross said, "You don't see a lot of receivers excited to be in the running game. It's really cool."

"He proud to play the drive," According to the sandet."You can see him on the lippine. He is very smart in the game, and helped us. It's not available to have a man.

Three games after his clinch against McCreary, Kupp earned the final spot.On third-and-3 from the 13, the receiver cut inside safety Quentin Lake, caught Darnold's pass at the 5 and past safety Kam Kinchens for a TD.

The Rams scored on their next drive to cut Seattle's lead to four, going six yards for a late lead.However, the Seahawks stopped on fourth-and-four and took over with 4:54 left.

Thanks in part to Cupp, they would kill all but 25 seconds left, leaving the Rams with no timeouts and 93 yards to the end zone, effectively ending their season.A receiver turnover, a third-and-7 catch, and Durant closing tight, moved the chain to 3:11 to go;Cupp lost the ball after the first down, but the official ruled the play dead.

On second-and-7 from the L.A. 48 four plays later, Darnold rolled left and missed Smith-Njigba on a short throw.Kupp, his first pick, ran a deep route to the left — and was chased by Durant, who caught the receiver and called the holding.

The Rams' season slipped away in the process.

Soon after, Cupp joined his teammates in celebrating on the field, but it wasn't long after the trophy ceremony.

It would not be an interview, but he made a strong explanation with his actions.No doubt he delivered a lated that hurt his former mansures.However, he also modeled something inspiring for his seahawks teammates, which place an invaluable tone for it.

When the Rams released Kupp last March, Jones — who came to Seattle in a mid-2024 trade — immediately began writing, recalling, "I texted him and said — 'I understand the situation; I've been there. This team we've got here, it's special. If you come and join us, I believe we have a chance to go to the Bowl, but you don't want to go to the Bowl. It's a valuable part of helping us.makes us win this championship.'So, for him to be here, he is."

Long after the game, as he prepared to leave the stadium, Darnold tried to do justice to Kopp's impact — and acknowledge that the receiver's quiet first half ultimately showed his best qualities.

"There are no words that can really explain it," Darnold said with a soft voice.

"It's a lesson to the kids — not just the kids, but the players. It's not always going to go your way, but if you just keep pushing and doing your job, the ball will find you."

And when that happens, if you are Cooper Koop, you will never see again - to the enthusiast, or to the doubters who no longer want you.