RENTON, Wash. (AP) 鈥� Perhaps it was because of his ever-growing playoff beard that veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp felt inclined to comment on how hot it was inside the Seattle Seahawks鈥� meeting room Thursday.
On a balmy January day in the Emerald City, Kupp stood before a gaggle of reporters in a tank top after cracking wise, just as he has so often in his first season with the Seahawks. But for those who know him best, it鈥檚 hardly a facade that Kupp puts on in front of the press.
Rather, it鈥檚 an extension of who the 32-year-old Kupp, in his ninth NFL season, is and always has been ahead of Sunday鈥檚 NFC championship game between the Seahawks and his former team, the Los Angeles Rams. He is consistently optimistic.
“He鈥檚 the same person every day, and you can count on him,鈥� said Seahawks running back Cam Akers, who was also Kupp鈥檚 teammate with the Rams. 鈥淵ou can count on him to be exactly where you need him to be at the right time every time. So, consistency, being a true leader without having to say much.鈥�
Kupp鈥檚 play did plenty of talking, though, during eight prolific seasons with the Rams. He was not only the Super Bowl 56 MVP, but Kupp also won the 2021 AP Offensive Player of the Year award and the receiving triple crown during that championship season.
Injuries plagued Kupp over his last three seasons in Los Angeles and that contributed to last year. This year in Seattle, Kupp鈥檚 practice repetitions were limited to help him get through a full season, which he nearly did while playing 16 out of 17 games and amassing the second-most yards receiving on the team with 593.
Coach Mike Macdonald has been appreciative not only of the standard Kupp has set for the other Seahawks鈥� receivers, but his availability.
鈥淎re you surprised that the guy鈥檚 put himself in position to play great football? Not one bit,鈥� Macdonald said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had a plan for him. Probably earlier in his career, the amount of workload that he would put in on a daily basis, I think that made have taken a toll on him. But he鈥檚 been really smart.鈥�
In return, Kupp has been integral not only to the Seahawks鈥� passing game, but also its rushing attack that finished the season tied for the 10th-most yards (2,096) in the league. Kupp drew rave reviews from offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and his fellow wide receivers for his willingness to block, which he said comes easily considering his teammates鈥� eagerness to do the same.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a phenomenal Hall of Fame brain, and a guy who’s made a lot of plays for us,” Kubiak said. “He gets a lot of credit for the way he blocks, and he should. But, he鈥檚 made some really big plays in the pass game, and we鈥檙e going to keep relying on him there.鈥�
While he has been thrilled by the Seahawks鈥� success in a season in which they had the most regular-season wins (14) in franchise history, Kupp lamented racking up the second-fewest receiving yards of his career in a season.
鈥淎t the end of the day, I鈥檓 going to go out there and execute what鈥檚 asked of me,鈥� Kupp said. 鈥溾�� As anyone would, everyone wants to come in here and have 1,500 yards in a year, everyone wants to score 10 touchdowns. It鈥檚 just, you want the ball in your hands.鈥�
Even so, Kupp recognizes the 鈥渦nbelievable storyline鈥� that awaits him. If the Seahawks are to advance to the Super Bowl, they鈥檒l first have to beat his previous team. As bubbly a personality as Kupp possesses, though, he isn鈥檛 one to bring attention to himself.
鈥淲e all have a story,鈥� Kupp said. 鈥淎ll these guys that step on the field, they鈥檝e all had a story to get them to this point. They鈥檝e all had this journey of what this year has been for them, what the last few years has been to come to this point. Mine is just 1 of 53.鈥�
And yet, Kupp鈥檚 story is one of resilience. It鈥檚 the daily grind of overcoming challenges that keeps bringing Kupp back to football, and simultaneously endears him to teammates like Akers, who called him probably one of the 鈥渂est鈥� he鈥檚 ever had.
As such, it鈥檚 little surprise Kupp keeps coming back for more football, more camaraderie 鈥� and more quips.
鈥淚 love every part of coming to work each day, no matter what the ask is,鈥� Kupp said. 鈥淚 love being around the guys that are here and working towards a common goal together. I love the adversity and the opportunity it presents to rise above things that everyone else says should put you down.鈥�
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