Cooper Kupp's decision to join the Seattle Seahawks came after he was cut by the Los Angeles Rams, deciding to join the team's NFC West rival after receiving a DM from a team legend
07:17 ET, 11 Feb 2026
Cooper Kupp joined his hometown Seattle Seahawks this past offseason, immediately becoming a team legend after winning a Super Bowl
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Cooper Kupp joined his hometown Seattle Seahawks this past offseason, immediately becoming a team legend after winning a Super Bowl(Image: Getty Images)
Cooper Kupp was convinced to join the Seattle Seahawks after receiving a promise from one of the team's captains.
Seahawks legend and current defensive captain Jarred Reed messaged Kupp just one day after the Los Angeles Rams made the intriguing move to release him. Kupp had established himself as one of the Rams' greatest-ever players, winning the Super Bowl and MVP award with the team during his eight-year stay in California.
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But his exit was not a pretty one, with The Athletic claiming that the Rams attempted to sabotage Kupp by telling other teams not to sign him to more than the minimum NFL contract, while hoping he would retire.
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Kupp signed with the Seahawks on a three-year, $45 million deal after being let go by the Rams, going on to score the decisive touchdown to exact his revenge in the NFC Championship Game.
Now, he's a Super Bowl champion with Seattle, his boyhood team after growing up just a few hours' drive from the city. The Seahawks beat the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XL in Santa Clara, California, last weekend.
And had it not been for Reed's message, Kupp may not have made the move. This week, the veteran receiver shared a screenshot of a DM he received from him.
The day after Cooper Kupp was released by the LA Rams, Seahawks captain Jarran Reed was in his DMs
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The day after Cooper Kupp was released by the LA Rams, Seahawks captain Jarran Reed was in his DMs(Image: Getty Images)
Kupp was released by the Rams on March 12, before Reed sent a day later: "Broooo we would love you in Seattle my guy we are building something special over here."
Five days later, Kupp signed his deal with the Seahawks, joining Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Sam Darnold in their new-look offense. As Reed promised, the Seahawks were building something special: a championship-winning roster.
Admitting his time didn't end well with the Rams, Kupp said: "It wasn't smooth, it wasn't perfect, it wasn't sunshine and rainbows... I don't know that I've got the words."
But Kupp is overjoyed after winning a Super Bowl with his hometown team, now moving on from his time with the Rams after a disappointing end. He added: "It's an unbelievable story. There were some really tough times this year for my family and I."
Kupp suggested that his wife, Anna, had also been a driving force in his decision to sign with Seattle, and he emotionally spoke of her after the Super Bowl.
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He said: "There was some tough times. Anna has believed that this is what we came to Seattle to do. This is why we came here.
"A lot of happy tears was the message from her. Everyone here that has family knows how much that our families put into this for us to do what we do."
The Seahawks will parade around Seattle with the Vince Lombardi trophy on Wednesday.