Cooper Kupp’s Redemption Run: Former Rams Star Helps Lift Seahawks to NFC Title Over Old Team
There are wins, and then there are statement wins. For Cooper Kupp, Sunday’s NFC Championship Game was more than just a trip to the Super Bowl-it was personal. The veteran wideout, once the face of the Rams’ offense, played a pivotal role in the Seattle Seahawks’ 31-27 win over Los Angeles, sending his former team home and punching Seattle’s ticket to the big game.
Let’s be clear: Kupp didn’t just show up-he delivered. With clutch grabs, key conversions, and one crucial touchdown, the Yakima native made sure his fingerprints were all over this one. And given the backstory, it’s hard to ignore how much this moment must’ve meant.
From LA Hero to Seattle Playmaker
Kupp’s journey to this point is one of those NFL arcs that feels like it was written for Hollywood. Drafted in the third round out of Eastern Washington, he blossomed into one of the league’s premier receivers with the Rams. His 2021 season was nothing short of historic-145 receptions, 1,947 yards, and a Super Bowl MVP trophy to top it off.
But the ending in LA? Not exactly a fairy tale.
After the 2024 season, the Rams cut ties with Kupp. And it wasn’t just a roster move-it was a messy divorce.
Kupp made it known he didn’t agree with the decision, saying he always believed his career would begin and end in Los Angeles. Turns out, there was even more going on behind the scenes.
A Rift That Ran Deep
According to reports, the Rams didn’t just release Kupp-they allegedly encouraged him to retire. Even more eyebrow-raising, Kupp reportedly believed the team was quietly warning other franchises not to offer him more than the veteran minimum, citing concerns about his age and injuries.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a player who had given so much to the franchise.
The tension had apparently been building for a while. As young receiver Puka Nacua emerged during the 2023 season, Kupp felt like he was being phased out of the offense. Fewer plays designed for him, less involvement, and a growing sense that he was becoming an afterthought.
Trade rumors swirled in 2024, with the Rams insisting they were only listening to offers. But Kupp reportedly saw that as disingenuous. Whether they were actively shopping him or not, the writing was on the wall.
A Heated Rivalry Boils Over
Things nearly reached a boiling point earlier this season when the Rams and Seahawks met in Week 16. Kupp had a costly fumble late in the first half, and tensions flared as coaches from both teams headed to the locker rooms.
According to witnesses, Rams assistants were overheard discussing the fumble in a shared elevator. When one coach asked who was responsible and another replied “Kupp,” there was reportedly a snicker. That didn’t sit well with Seahawks outside linebackers coach Chris Partridge, who fired back and had to be restrained after Rams pass rush coordinator Drew Wilkins got involved.
Word of the altercation made its way back to the Seahawks’ locker room-and it lit a fire. Seattle came back from 16 points down in the fourth quarter to steal a 38-37 overtime win. That win didn’t just keep Seattle’s season alive-it set the tone for what was coming.
Kupp Has the Last Word
Fast forward to Sunday. With a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, Kupp stepped up when it mattered most.
After the Rams had clawed back to make it 24-20, Kupp helped extend a critical third-quarter drive with a 12-yard reception on third-and-9. He capped that drive with a 13-yard touchdown catch-what turned out to be the game-winning score.
But he wasn’t done.
Later, he made a twisting, contested grab to convert another third down and drew a defensive holding call on Seattle’s final drive. That penalty helped bleed the clock and left the Rams with just 25 seconds to go 93 yards-an impossible task on this night.
Full Circle
For Kupp, this wasn’t just about stats or highlights. This was about proving he still had plenty left in the tank.
About showing the team that cast him aside that he wasn’t done. And about helping his new squad-his home-state squad-get to the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks are heading to the big stage. And Cooper Kupp? He’s heading there with a little extra satisfaction.