Cooper Kupp facts for kids
Kupp with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020
|
|||||||
| No. 10 – Los Angeles Rams | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | June 15, 1993 Yakima, Washington, U.S. |
||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 207 lb (94 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Davis (Yakima) | ||||||
| College: | Eastern Washington (2012–2016) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2017 / Round: 3 / Pick: 69 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Roster status: | Active | ||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Cooper Douglas Kupp (born June 15, 1993) is an American professional football player. He is a wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Eastern Washington. There, he won the Walter Payton Award, which is a big honor for college players.
The Rams picked Cooper in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. In 2021, he had an amazing season. He became only the fourth player since the AFL-NFL Merger to lead the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. This is known as the "receiving triple crown."
Kupp also won the Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2021. He was named the MVP of Super Bowl LVI. Only one other wide receiver, Jerry Rice, has ever achieved both of these in their career.
Cooper Kupp holds several college records. He is the all-time leader in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision for receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. He also holds the NFL record for most receiving yards in a combined season and postseason, with 2,425 yards in the 2021 season.
Contents
Early Life and High School
Cooper Kupp was born in Yakima, Washington. Football runs in his family! His grandfather, Jake Kupp, was an NFL offensive lineman. His dad, Craig Kupp, was an NFL quarterback. Their family is one of only five in NFL history to have three generations drafted into the league.
Cooper went to Davis High School in Yakima. He was a great athlete, playing both football and basketball. In football, he was a top player on both offense and defense. He was even named All-State as a defensive back and a wide receiver.
In his senior year, Cooper caught 60 passes for 1,059 yards and 18 touchdowns. He set a school record with 22 total touchdowns. Even with these amazing stats, he didn't get any college scholarship offers at first. Three weeks after his last high school game, he finally got his first offer from Eastern Washington.
He was also a key player on the basketball team. He helped Davis High win the State 4A Tournament championship in his senior year.
College Football Career
Cooper Kupp went to Eastern Washington University. He joined the Eastern Washington Eagles football team in 2012 but didn't play that year, which is called a "redshirt" year. He was named the team's Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year.
Record-Breaking Freshman Year (2013)
In 2013, Cooper started as a wide receiver in his first year playing. He broke many school and national records for a freshman in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). He set national freshman records for:
- Receiving yards (1,691)
- Total touchdown catches (21)
- Consecutive games with a touchdown catch (14)
- Receptions (93)
He was named the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year. He also won the 2013 Jerry Rice Award, which goes to the best freshman player in the FCS. Cooper was the first player from Eastern Washington and the Big Sky Conference to win this award. He was also named a first-team All-American, a huge honor for a freshman.
Continued Success (2014-2015)
In 2014, Cooper continued to shine. He had 104 catches for 1,431 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was named a First-team All-American for the second year in a row.
The 2015 season was another incredible year for Cooper. He caught 114 passes for 1,642 yards and 19 touchdowns. He broke the Big Sky record for catches in a single season. He was named the Big Sky Offensive Most Valuable Player. Most importantly, he won the Walter Payton Award, given to the top offensive player in the FCS. He was only the second wide receiver to ever win this award.
Senior Season and All-Time Records (2016)
Cooper decided to return for his senior season in 2016. He was ready to break even more records. He finished the season with 117 receptions for 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns.
By the end of his college career, Cooper Kupp held the FCS records for:
- Most career receptions (428)
- Most career receiving yards (6,464)
- Most career receiving touchdowns (73)
His 6,464 receiving yards were also an all-division NCAA record, meaning he had more yards than any player in any college division at the time!
College Statistics
| Season | Team | GP | Receiving | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | R/G | Yds | Y/G | Avg | Lng | TD | |||
| 2012 | Eastern Washington | 0 |  Redshirt |
||||||
| 2013 | Eastern Washington | 15 | 93 | 6.2 | 1,691 | 112.7 | 18.2 | 63 | 21 |
| 2014 | Eastern Washington | 13 | 104 | 8.0 | 1,431 | 110.1 | 13.8 | 61 | 16 |
| 2015 | Eastern Washington | 11 | 114 | 10.4 | 1,642 | 149.3 | 14.4 | 78 | 19 |
| 2016 | Eastern Washington | 13 | 117 | 9.0 | 1,700 | 130.7 | 14.5 | 75 | 17 |
| Total | 52 | 428 | 8.4 | 6,464 | 125.7 | 14.9 | 78 | 73 | |
College Awards and Honors
- College football all-division career leader in receiving yards (6,464)
- NCAA FCS career leader in receiving touchdowns (73) and receptions (428)
- Walter Payton Award (2015)
- STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year (2015)
- Jerry Rice Award (2013)
- 2x Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year (2015–16)
- Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year (2013)
- 2x College Football Performance Awards FCS Wide Receiver Award (2013, 2015)
- 4x First-team FCS All-American (AFCA, AP, STATS) (2013–16)
- 3x First-team FCS All-American (WCFF) (2013, 15–16)
- 2x First-team Division I Academic All-American (CoSIDA) (2015–16)
- Second-team Division I Academic All-American (CoSIDA) (2014)
- 4x First-team All-Big Sky Conference Wide Receiver (2013–16)
- Second-team All-Big Sky Conference Punt Returner (2016)
- Third-team All-Big Sky Conference Punt Returner (2014)
Professional Career
Getting Ready for the NFL
Before the NFL draft, Cooper Kupp showed off his skills at the 2017 Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine. Many experts thought he would be picked in the second or third round. One NFL analyst even called him the best wide receiver in his draft class!
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Wonderlic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 1+5⁄8 in (1.87 m) |
204 lb (93 kg) |
31+1⁄2 in (0.80 m) |
9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) |
4.62 s | 1.62 s | 2.69 s | 4.08 s | 6.75 s | 31.0 in (0.79 m) |
9 ft 8 in (2.95 m) |
37 | |
| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Rookie Season (2017)
The Los Angeles Rams picked Cooper Kupp in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He was the 69th player chosen overall. He quickly became an important player for the Rams.
In his very first NFL game, he caught four passes for 76 yards and scored his first touchdown! He became a key target for his quarterback, especially in important situations like third downs and near the end zone. By the end of his rookie year, he had 62 catches for 869 yards and five touchdowns. The Rams made the playoffs, and Cooper even scored a touchdown in their playoff game.
Injury and Comeback (2018-2019)
In 2018, Cooper started strong, even catching two touchdowns in one game. However, he suffered a serious knee injury (a torn ACL) during Week 10, which ended his season early. It was tough, but he worked hard to recover.
He came back strong in 2019. He had several games with over 100 receiving yards. In a game in London against the Cincinnati Bengals, he had an amazing 220 receiving yards, which set an NFL record for an international game! He finished the season with 94 catches for 1,161 yards and 10 touchdowns, leading his team in all three categories.
2020 Season
For the 2020 season, Cooper changed his jersey number to 10, which was his number in college. He signed a new contract with the Rams, showing they believed in him. He continued to be a top receiver for the team, leading them in catches and receiving yards.
.jpg)
Historic 2021 Season: Triple Crown and Super Bowl MVP
The 2021 season was one of the best ever for an NFL wide receiver. With new quarterback Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp started the season incredibly well. He had many games with over 100 yards and multiple touchdowns.
He achieved the "receiving triple crown," meaning he led the entire NFL in:
- Receptions (145)
- Receiving yards (1,947)
- Receiving touchdowns (16)
His 1,947 receiving yards were the second-most in NFL history for a single season! He also set new records for the Rams franchise in receptions and receiving yards.
In the playoffs, Cooper was unstoppable. He had huge games, helping the Rams win their way to the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl LVI, against the Cincinnati Bengals, Cooper scored the game-winning touchdown! For his incredible performance, he was named the Super Bowl MVP (Most Valuable Player). He set a new NFL record for most receptions in a single postseason with 33 catches.
Recent Seasons (2022-2024)
In 2022, Cooper signed a big contract extension with the Rams. He continued to play well, but he suffered an ankle injury that required surgery, causing him to miss the end of the season.
He returned in 2023, but a hamstring injury kept him out for the start of the season. When he came back, he quickly showed his talent, having several games with over 100 receiving yards and touchdowns.
.jpg)
In 2024, Cooper continued to make history. He tied his career high with 14 catches in the first game. He also passed NFL legends to become third all-time in receptions and receiving touchdowns for the Rams franchise.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year | |
| Super Bowl MVP | |
| Won the Super Bowl | |
| NFL record | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular Season
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2017 | LAR | 15 | 6 | 62 | 869 | 14.0 | 64 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | LAR | 8 | 8 | 40 | 566 | 14.2 | 70 | 6 | 4 | 25 | 6.3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | LAR | 16 | 14 | 94 | 1,161 | 12.4 | 66 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 2.0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 | LAR | 15 | 12 | 92 | 974 | 10.6 | 55 | 3 | 4 | 33 | 8.3 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | LAR | 17 | 17 | 145 | 1,947 | 13.4 | 59 | 16 | 4 | 18 | 4.5 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | LAR | 9 | 9 | 75 | 812 | 10.8 | 75 | 6 | 9 | 52 | 5.8 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2023 | LAR | 12 | 12 | 59 | 737 | 12.5 | 62 | 5 | 1 | −3 | −3.0 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | LAR | 12 | 11 | 67 | 710 | 10.6 | 69 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 5.0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career | 104 | 89 | 634 | 7,776 | 12.3 | 75 | 57 | 26 | 139 | 5.4 | 20 | 1 | 7 | 3 | |
Postseason
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2017 | LAR | 1 | 0 | 8 | 69 | 8.6 | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | LAR | 0 | 0 | did not play due to injury | |||||||||||
| 2020 | LAR | 1 | 1 | 4 | 78 | 19.5 | 44 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | LAR | 4 | 4 | 33 | 478 | 14.5 | 70 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 2.5 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 | LAR | 1 | 1 | 5 | 27 | 5.4 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 7 | 6 | 50 | 652 | 13.0 | 70 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 2.5 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Awards and Highlights
NFL Awards
- Super Bowl champion (LVI)
- Super Bowl MVP (LVI)
- NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2021)
- PFWA NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award (2021)
- First-team All-Pro (2021)
- Pro Bowl (2021)
- NFL receptions leader (2021)
- NFL receiving yards leader (2021)
- NFL receiving touchdowns leader (2021)
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2017)
- Ranked No. 89 in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020
- Ranked No. 4 in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022
- Ranked No. 47 in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023
- Ranked No. 69 in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2024
- 2× NFC Offensive Player of the Month (2021 – September, October)
NFL Records
- Most receptions through first 100 games – 625
- Most yards from scrimmage by a wide receiver in a single season – 1,965 (2021)
- Most consecutive games with 90+ receiving yards – 13 (2021)
- Most games with 90+ receiving yards in a single season – 16 (2021)
- Most receptions in a single postseason – 33 (2021)
Los Angeles Rams Franchise Records
- Most receptions in a single season – 145 (2021)
- Most receiving yards in a single season – 1,947 (2021)
College Awards, Honors and Records
- Walter Payton Award (2015)
- STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year (2015)
- Jerry Rice Award (2013)
- 2× Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year (2015–16)
- Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year (2013)
- 2× College Football Performance Awards FCS Wide Receiver Award (2013, 2015)
- 4× First-team FCS All-American (AFCA, AP, STATS) (2013–16)
- 3× First-team FCS All-American (WCFF) (2013, 15–16)
- 2× First-team Division I Academic All-American (CoSIDA) (2015–16)
- Second-team Division I Academic All-American (CoSIDA) (2014)
- 4× First-team All-Big Sky Conference Wide Receiver (2013–16)
- Second-team All-Big Sky Conference Punt Returner (2016)
- Third-team All-Big Sky Conference Punt Returner (2014)
- College football all-division career leader in receiving yards (6,464)
- NCAA FCS career leader in receiving touchdowns (73) and receptions (428)
Personal Life
Cooper Kupp comes from a family of football players. His dad, Craig Kupp, played quarterback in the NFL. His younger brother, Ketner, also played college football at Eastern Washington.
His grandfather, Jake Kupp, was an offensive lineman in the NFL for many years. He played for teams like the New Orleans Saints and was even inducted into their Hall of Fame.
Cooper became good friends with former Rams quarterback Jared Goff. They even lived together for a few weeks after the draft. They spent time practicing and studying football plays together.
Cooper is a Christian. He met his wife, Anna Croskrey, in high school. They got married in 2015 and have three sons. During the football season, they live in California, and in the offseason, they live in Oregon.
See also
- List of third-generation National Football league players
