Sean McVay
Getty
LA Rams head coach Sean McVay
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp was the second-ever draft selection of the Sean McVay era for the Los Angeles Rams and turned out to be one of the team’s best offensive players in recent history.
In his 8 seasons with the organization, Kupp hauled in 7,776 receiving yards and 57 receiving touchdowns, including a historic triple crown season in the 2021-22 season where he led the league with 1,947 receiving yards (the second-most receiving yards in a single season), 145 catches and 16 touchdowns. In the same season, he won the Super Bowl and was the MVP of the game.
Earlier this year, the Rams decided to release Kupp after failing to find a trade partner. Now, Kupp finds himself with division rival, the Seattle Seahawks, after he signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the team, meaning Kupp will face the team that drafted him twice a season now.
The former Ram will return to Los Angeles in a couple of weeks, his first game against his former team. McVay spoke to the media and shared his thoughts on playing against Cooper Kupp for the first time.
Sean McVay On Playing Against Former Draft Pick
Sean McVay Cooper Kupp
GettyLA Rams head coach Sean McVay (left) and current Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (right)
Outside of being the triple crown winner, Cooper Kupp received his first Pro Bowl nod, First-Team All-Pro selection and won the Offensive Player of the Year award.
The first meeting between Kupp and the Rams this season will take place in Week 11, with their second meeting coming in Week 16 in Seattle.
Head coach Sean McVay was asked by a reporter what emotions he will feel when he plays against his former draft pick.
“I think just a lot of love, a lot of appreciation. The amount of time that we spent, the relationship,” McVay said, via the Rams YouTube. “This game brought me so much and the most important thing it brought me is a lot of special people in my life that I’ve come across that changed my life and made me a better person. And Cooper Kupp is one of those guys.”
“He’s changed my life for all the better because he was in it… But the personal love, appreciation and respect that I have for his body of work as a competitor, as a player, is — I could never sit here and give you enough words to truly reflect the love that I have for that human being and the time that we spent together with our player-coach relationship.”
Cooper Kupp May Not Play In Week 11
Cooper Kupp
GettySeattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp
Cooper Kupps’ anticipated return to Los Angeles may not see him on the field in Week 11.
The wide receiver is currently dealing with a hamstring injury, which forced him to miss the Week 9 matchup against the Washington Commanders.
Kupp was questionable for the game on Sunday, and could clear the way to make his return to LA, but if the healing process goes sideways, he could not play in the city where he started his career.
The Week 11 matchup between the Rams and Seahawks could decide who wins the NFC West as both teams have 6 wins competitive division. Maybe this time, Kupp will be the Rams’ downfall instead of helping them win.