Cooper Kupp
LOS ANGELES RAMS
| Position | College | Years in the NFL |
|---|---|---|
| Wide Receiver | Eastern Washington University | 7 |
Demonstrates Excellence on the Field
Despite missing the first four games of the regular season due to injury, Cooper Kupp continues to shine as one of the NFL's top receivers. He is just two receiving touchdowns away from moving to fourth in franchise history and needs 63 receptions to secure the third spot on the Rams' all-time receptions list. After missing the team's previous 12 regular season games dating back to the 2022 campaign, Kupp recorded eight receptions for 118 yards and seven catches for 148 yards and one touchdown in his first two games back in action.
He continues to set the example for a young Rams roster, on and off the field. He has also been voted as a team captain by his teammates in four consecutive seasons and traveled with the team for the first four games of the '23 season to serve as an extension of the coaching staff despite being on the injured reserve list.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts this Year
Earlier this season, Kupp joined forces with renowned LA-region chefs and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank for the 8th Annual Taste of the Rams event to combat food insecurity in Los Angeles. The evening raised almost
$200,000, helping provide essential assistance and distribute nutritious meals. It was the fourth consecutive year Kupp partnered with the food bank and served as the event's Honorary Chair. "Knowing how much of a difference a meal can make to those in need and being able to hopefully inspire others to help meet the needs of people living with food insecurity around the country is something my family is very passionate about," Kupp said of the food bank partnership.
In addition to his efforts combating hunger, Kupp has "adopted" a high school football team this season and is mentoring their players and coaches to inspire and help instill a winning culture. To kick off the initiative, Kupp
visited the Royal High School Football team and met the players and coaches, toured their facilities, and led the team in an extensive film session. The following month, Kupp invited the entire team to the Rams practice facility while the team practiced. He worked with Nike to provide the entire team with t-shirts and shorts along with a post-practice meal provided by El Torito. Kupp also invited players and coaches on the team to the Rams- Cardinals matchup at SoFi Stadium. "Not everyone gets those opportunities… I just wanted that to be a kind of a cool experience for those guys," said Kupp when asked about the kids' unique gameday experience.
Through his other efforts, he continues to help underprivileged communities. Earlier this year, Kupp hosted a free youth football camp and funded buses to transport Lincoln Rams youth football players from Boyle Heights. He also has previously partnered with Sage Fruit, a fruit distributor, to promote healthy eating. He plans to distribute Sage Fruit nutrition around the holidays to families in need. Kupp also volunteered alongside the Royal High football team at a local food drive and distributed brand new uniforms to the team.
Kupp was nominated as the team's Salute to Service Award nominee earlier this month for his support of the club's military appreciation efforts. Last year, as part of the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative, Kupp chose to represent the Call of Duty Endowment, America's largest private funder of veteran employment, and honored a military vet. In a recent initiative, he sold personalized merchandise on his website and donated the net proceeds to Team Rubicon, a veteran-led humanitarian organization. The donation aimed to support veterans seeking employment and provide aid for disaster relief. Additionally, during the 2022 season, Kupp collaborated with TikTok influencer Isaiah Garza and the Rams to fulfill a dream for a WWII veteran from Kupp's hometown of Yakima, Washington.
Kupp represented the Gary Sinese Foundation during My Cause My Cleats this year and is selling custom merchandise with net proceeds going to bringing first responders and their families to a Rams home game.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past
Kupp has also worked with Nike to help combat chronic absenteeism. In 2021 and 2020, he donated $30K worth of Nike product to support Inglewood Unified School District students. The gear was used as incentive items to reward IUSD students for engagement in school and their education. The effort also provided clothing for 23 student families.
During the COVID pandemic, Kupp worked with Operation Progress and participated in a Character Development series for middle school students in Watts, CA. As part of the program, Kupp hosted a virtual mentorship session and spoke to students about being contributors to their communities. Also in 2020, Kupp made a $21,000 donation to purchase 84,000 meals for food banks in the Yakima and Richland areas of Washington, the LA Regional Food Bank, and Food Share Ventura County.
Demonstrates Consistency in Positive Character and Models a Lifestyle of Giving Back
Kupp has consistently demonstrated positive character as a Ram. The four-time team captain has always mentored younger players and set examples for all his teammates. He continues to lead meetings, help others prepare with film sessions, showcase self-discipline, invite his teammates to give back to the LA community through programs like Taste of the Rams, and serve as a community champion off the field. He has become a pillar of the organization.
Earlier this year, Coach McVay was asked how Kupp was still an active participant in team activities while he was on the injured reserve list. "As special of a player as he is, he's even more of a special person. I think what the most powerful thing was…because usually guys that are on IR don't make the trips to these away games and things like that, but those guys specifically asked (for him) because they wanted his feedback because of the way that he's able to lead, and the information that he's able to give them that could be digestible and then applicable. That's really cool…," said McVay.
