From Cheney to the Super Bowl: Efton Chism’s Journey from Chasing Cooper Kupp to Sharing the Stage
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Trying to break a Cooper Kupp record at Eastern Washington is like trying to outshine Tom Brady in a Patriots jersey - it’s not for the faint of heart. But for Efton Chism, those sky-high standards didn’t scare him off. They lit a fire.
Now, in a full-circle moment that feels like it was written for Hollywood, Chism - the undrafted Patriots rookie wide receiver - is set to face off against Kupp in Super Bowl LX. Two wideouts, two Eastern Washington legends, meeting on the biggest stage in football.
“Make no bones about it, Efton Chism talked about it all the time,” said Eastern Washington head coach Aaron Best, who’s seen both careers up close. “He’d say, ‘I won’t reach Cooper Kupp’s status, but I’m not going to stop trying to reach Cooper Kupp’s status.’ That’s not an everyday mindset.”
Kupp’s college numbers are the stuff of legend: 428 catches, 6,464 yards, 73 touchdowns. Those stats don’t just top school records - they eclipse some quarterback totals.
For Chism, who grew up watching Kupp torch secondaries on the Eagles’ iconic red turf, that legacy was never intimidating. It was motivational.
“It’s ridiculous. I think he’s one of the best FCS players of all time,” Chism said.
“So for me to come in there and have that stature and those goals up there, man, it’s always just like a running thing I’m chasing. No matter how good a season I was having, there was always someone better, always something pushing me to the next step.”
That next step came this offseason when the Patriots signed Chism as an undrafted free agent. And while those types of signings often fly under the radar, New England had to work to bring him in.
According to executive VP of player personnel Eliot Wolf, it felt more like a recruiting pitch than a signing. But there’s a reason Chism was on their radar - and it goes beyond stats.
At 5-foot-10 and 198 pounds, Chism fits the mold of the classic Patriots slot receiver. Think Troy Brown, Wes Welker, Julian Edelman - guys who might not wow you in the combine but show up when it matters. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has built a career maximizing players like that, and Chism’s skill set turned heads in training camp.
When veteran wideout Mack Hollins went down late in the year with an abdominal injury, Chism stepped in and made the most of his opportunity. Over a three-game stretch, he hauled in four catches for 95 yards and his first NFL touchdown - a glimpse of what he could become.
Coach Best wasn’t surprised.
“I’d be lying if I said I was surprised. Both are just wired differently,” Best said, referring to Chism and Kupp.
“Their DNA is their DNA. They’re hard-wired differently than most people.
Success is the only option.”
While Kupp and Chism aren’t carbon copies - Kupp’s 6-foot-1 frame allowed him to line up all over the field in Eastern Washington’s offense - Best sees plenty of overlap in how they approach the game. Both are precise route runners.
Both know how to find soft spots in coverage. Both are dangerous after the catch and contribute on special teams.
And maybe more importantly, both are team-first guys.
“The air went out of the stadium when either of those guys caught the ball and got tackled right away,” Best said. “Because you knew something big was coming if they had any space.”
Off the field, the similarities continue. Best describes them as “caring, charismatic, dedicated, committed, team-first” players. The kind of guys who lead by example and elevate the locker room.
Chism’s connection to Kupp runs deep. Long before he was catching touchdowns in the NFL, he was a 12-year-old fan sitting in Husky Stadium, decked out in Eastern Washington red, watching Kupp torch the University of Washington for 145 yards and three touchdowns. That day left a mark.
“He’s kind of a legend,” Chism said. “I look up to him a bunch and I’m excited to compete against him.”
The two haven’t met in person yet, but they’ve exchanged texts. Chism hopes to thank Kupp in person on Sunday - not just for the inspiration, but for blazing a trail from Cheney to the NFL.
Kupp, now 32 and in the latter stages of a stellar career, has kept an eye on Chism’s rise.
“Really good football player. Definitely followed him,” Kupp said.
“His career at Eastern Washington was really cool. It’s really awesome, seeing him get the opportunity in his first year to be in a Super Bowl.
That’s a really cool thing. Looking forward to seeing him on Sunday.”
Chism had chances to leave Eastern Washington for bigger programs - offers came in from the SEC, Big 12, and Mountain West. But he stayed.
He wanted to build something, to leave a legacy. And he did.
Heading into his final college game, he needed 11 catches to break Kupp’s single-season reception record. Best made sure the team knew what was at stake.
Chism delivered: 13 catches, 119 yards, and a touchdown. He finished the year with 120 receptions, 1,311 yards, and 13 touchdowns - numbers that now sit atop the Eagles’ record book.
“It was pretty cool,” Chism said. “Our coach told us in front of everyone.
I was like, ‘All right,’ but I knew we needed 11 catches in one game. I was like, ‘Here we go.
Let’s see.’ And then it happened.
I’m super grateful.”
Kupp’s NFL résumé speaks for itself - 681 catches, 8,369 yards, 59 touchdowns, and a historic triple crown season in 2021. Chism may never match those numbers, but that’s not the point. For Best, it’s about something deeper.
“Ball is something they chase,” he said. “It’s not recreational to those guys.
It’s a profession. They were both professionals before they got to the professional ranks.”
On Sunday, Chism will line up on football’s biggest stage. He’ll share the field with one of his idols. And in doing so, he’ll prove that chasing the unattainable can sometimes take you exactly where you’re meant to be.