For eight seasons with the Rams, games at Lumen Field were an annual rite of passage for Cooper Kupp. The Yakima native, a graduate of Davis High School and Eastern Washington University, would play in his home state as a visitor, with friends and family making the trip over the Cascade Mountains to watch. While proud, their support was often conflicted, as many were also Seahawks fans.
This Sunday, that dynamic will shift dramatically. When the Seahawks host the 49ers, Kupp will, for the first time in his decorated career, be a member of the home team in Washington.
“It’s a cool thing,” Kupp said Wednesday. “When you come here to play, your friends are wearing Seattle jerseys. Now we’re in the same jersey. We’re able to do that together, so that will be a really cool thing.”
But Kupp’s arrival is far more than a sentimental homecoming. He is a vital component of the Seahawks’ new-look offense. After a stellar career with the Rams that included 7,776 receiving yards, a first-team All-Pro selection, the 2021 AP Offensive Player of the Year award, and a Super Bowl MVP trophy, Kupp signed with Seattle this offseason to start alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Having overcome recent injuries, Kupp has been healthy and present throughout the offseason, quickly building chemistry with quarterback Sam Darnold and establishing himself as a key playmaker in Klint Kubiak’s offense.
His impact extends beyond his own performance. Younger receivers are already benefiting from his veteran presence. “You can say Coop is definitely on another level,” Smith-Njigba said. “I’m the young buck learning from that, and that’s awesome. It’s awesome to really be able to see the cuts and see exactly what he does and be able to kind of mirror that.”
Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak praised Kupp’s professional approach. “What stands out most about him is just his work ethic,” Kubiak said. “He’s in there early, he’s staying late, asking a lot of great questions. He leads by example… All of his tangibles and intangibles are rubbing off on the younger guys.”
Kupp’s influence reaches the coaching staff as well. Having spent years working with one of football’s top offensive minds in Sean McVay, his perspective is a valuable resource.
“A great football player,” said Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald. “He’s been around the block, he’s seen it done at a high level, and he’s an independent thinker. I love that mentality of, ‘Hey, I know we do it like this, but can we tweak it or could we make this a little better?’ As a coach, if you have the same mentality, you can come up with some great solutions… He’s been an asset to me, to Klint, to our offense, and to our football team.”
Kupp appreciates the collaborative environment Macdonald fosters, noting the coaching staff’s open-door policy and desire to find any possible edge. He described his football conversations with the head coach as a fun challenge.
“He talks fast, and he talks in their language,” Kupp said with a laugh, referring to defensive terminology. “But it’s been fun talking with him and being able to shoot ideas off each other and hearing what he’s thinking… It’s cool just to see the passion for the game.”
While Macdonald and McVay coach opposite sides of the ball, Kupp sees a crucial similarity in their relentless drive.
“I think they’re always on,” he explained. “It’s just constantly searching for what the next thing is going to be… They’re not okay with the thought that someone else is doing better than they are. I really appreciate that. I really love that mindset. It makes it fun as a player to be a part of it.”
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