Cooper Kupp’s Full-Circle Moment: From Rams Star to Seahawks Leader on the Super Bowl Stage
For years, Cooper Kupp was a thorn in the side of the Seattle Seahawks - a relentless route technician who carved up defenses with surgical precision in a Rams uniform. But now, as the Seahawks prepare for their biggest game in over a decade - Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots - Kupp isn’t the problem anymore. He’s part of the solution.
And for Kupp, this moment feels like destiny finally catching up.
The Eastern Washington product grew up just a few hours from Seattle, rooting for the team he now suits up for. The fit isn’t just geographical - it’s cultural. Kupp’s work ethic, leadership, and steady demeanor have blended seamlessly into a Seattle locker room that’s been undergoing a transformation under first-year head coach Mike Macdonald.
Kupp’s arrival last offseason wasn’t just a headline-grabbing move - it was a culture-setting one. After eight seasons with the Rams, the veteran wideout brought not just experience but a championship pedigree and a reputation for elevating those around him. And on a young Seahawks roster still finding its identity, that kind of presence matters.
But getting here wasn’t easy.
Kupp didn’t leave Los Angeles on his own terms. After nearly a decade of production - including a historic 2021 season that earned him the NFL’s receiving triple crown and Super Bowl MVP honors - the Rams made it clear they wanted to move on.
According to Kupp, they hoped he’d retire. He wasn’t ready.
So they cut ties.
“I think you’ve got to be able to move forward and know that sometimes good things die and go away,” Kupp said this week, reflecting on his departure from LA. “And there’s new things that can grow in their place.”
It’s a quote that captures the heart of Kupp’s journey. There’s no bitterness, just perspective - the kind that comes from weathering the highs and lows of a professional career. And now, he’s using that experience to guide the next generation.
In Seattle, Kupp has stepped into the mentor role once filled by veterans like Sammy Watkins and Tavon Austin during his early days with the Rams. He’s been instrumental in the development of young receivers like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed, passing on the same lessons that once helped him find his footing in the league.
That leadership has helped stabilize a Seahawks offense that’s grown more dynamic as the season’s progressed. Kupp may not be the focal point of the passing game every week, but his impact is felt in the details - the crispness of a route, the timing of a block, the way he reads a defense and adjusts on the fly. He’s still producing, but more than that, he’s elevating everyone around him.
Now, with the biggest game of the year just days away, Kupp has a chance to complete one of the NFL’s more poetic arcs - from local fan to division rival to potential Super Bowl hero for his hometown team.
A win on Sunday would be the storybook ending. But regardless of the final score, Cooper Kupp has already proven his value to the Seahawks in ways that go far beyond the box score.
Sometimes, good things end. But in Seattle, something new - and maybe even better - has taken root.