When Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks this spring, it was something of a homecoming for the Yakima native who played at Eastern Washington University.
And now, with the Seahawks facing the Rams in Los Angeles, Kupp will be returning to another of his longtime homes. A third-round pick in 2017, Kupp spent eight seasons with the Rams, including a 2021 season that was one of the best in league history for a receiver, with Kupp leading the NFL with 145 catches, 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns on his way to first-team All-Pro and AP Offensive Player of the Year honors. Kupp capped that historic season by winning Super Bowl MVP honors as the Rams beat the Bengal in Super Bowl LVI.
So of course, Kupp has fond memories of his time in L.A., and he built strong bonds with the city, the team's fans and with players, coaches and other members of the organization that he will see on Sunday.
But Kupp also knows he has a job to do on Sunday that has nothing to do with taking a trip down memory lane, or with seeking payback against the team that released him this offseason in a salary-cap related move. Kupp's Seahawks are 7-2, as are the Rams, meaning the focus this week, like every other, has to be on preparing for the task at hand and nothing else.
"It's another football game," Kupp said. "You get out there, play your game. I love these guys, I love so many of the guys over there, but at the end of the day, you've to go play a football game, so that's going to be what it is. Try to treat this the same as any other game, go out there and lock in and do your job one play after the next. Take that play-by-play mindset, same as usual."
Kupp's just-another-game isn't meant to minimize the importance of his time with the Rams; he just knows that if he lets nostalgia get the better of him during the week or on Sunday, he won't be able to help his current team to the best of his abilities.
"I'm so thankful for my time there, incredible experience, built so much with the fans, with the guys I was able to play with, and just great experiences," Kupp said. "Nothing but love for that city, but you've got to be able to lock in for the game and what's ahead of you. It'll be fun. I'm excited to get out there. It's a really good football team, they present some great challenges for us, and I'm excited to go out there and compete.
"You can't make this game about yourself. It doesn't work that way. It's too much of a team game. There are too many guys on the field doing too many things and working at such a high level. It's just about controlling what you can control, being a positive part of whatever is called and executing at a high level and coming back and doing it over and over again. It would just be a shame to say that I want this game more than any other game. That's doing a disservice to the guys that sit in this room with me that would hold back anything from them because of my own ambitions, wants or desires. I'm coming in here every week and giving my all in my preparation toward what I'm doing. When I step on the field, you're going to get the best that I can offer you because that's what the guys here deserve. That doesn't change based on any outstanding circumstances for myself."