In 2021, Cooper Kupp orchestrated one the most dominant individual campaigns by a wide receiver in NFL history. By securing the elusive Triple Crown — leading the league in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947), and touchdowns (16) — Kupp became just the fourth player in the Super Bowl era to achieve the feat, joining the ranks of legends like Jerry Rice. He capped this historic run by hauling in the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LVI, earning Super Bowl MVP honors and cementing a season that saw him shatter the record for most receiving yards in a combined season and postseason.
Kupp's season was the fuel for Los Angeles' run to the Super Bowl where the Rams lifted the Lombardi Trophy in front of their home crowd at SoFi Stadium. Though, since that magical year, Kupp's career has been halted by lingering injuries, failing to play more than 12 games in his final three seasons in Los Angeles.
This led to Los Angeles releasing Kupp in the 2025 offseason, where he joined his hometown team and division rival the Seattle Seahawks. While the receiver has not put up record-breaking numbers similar to his time in Los Angeles, Kupp's veteran presence has been necessary for an emerging Seahawks squad.
Let's revisit why the Rams moved on from their Super Bowl MVP and how he ended up in the Pacific Northwest.
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Why did the Rams release Cooper Kupp?
The Rams released Cooper Kupp on March 12, 2025, primarily due to a combination of his high salary cap hit, recurring injury issues, and a shift in the team's offensive direction.
Kupp was scheduled to count nearly $30 million against the salary cap in 2025. By designating him as a post-June 1 release, the Rams were able to save $15 million in cap space for the 2025 season, though they still had to take on significant dead money hits.
Though, the main reason was injuries, which prevented Kupp from being one of the premium receivers in the NFL. Since his historic 2021 Triple Crown season, Kupp struggled with durability, missing 17 games over the following three seasons due to ankle and hamstring injuries. General Manager Les Snead noted that Kupp’s "current phase of his career" no longer aligned with the team's long-term plans as he approached age 32.
The Rams had already moved toward younger stars like Puka Nacua and, just days before Kupp's release, signed free agent Davante Adams. With Adams and Nacua as the primary targets, there was no longer a clear fit or enough targets to justify Kupp’s massive contract.
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Cooper Kupp stats with Rams
Kupp’s tenure with the Los Angeles Rams (2017–2024) remains one of the most prolific stretches for a wide receiver in franchise history. Some consider his 2021 season the greatest individual receiving campaign of all time.
| Season | Games | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD |
| 2017 | 15 | 62 | 869 | 14.0 | 5 |
| 2018 | 8 | 40 | 566 | 14.2 | 6 |
| 2019 | 16 | 94 | 1,161 | 12.4 | 10 |
| 2020 | 15 | 92 | 974 | 10.6 | 3 |
| 2021 | 17 | 145 | 1,947 | 13.4 | 16 |
| 2022 | 9 | 75 | 812 | 10.8 | 6 |
| 2023 | 12 | 59 | 737 | 12.5 | 5 |
| 2024 | 12 | 67 | 710 | 10.6 | 6 |
| Total | 104 | 634 | 7,776 | 12.3 | 57 |
Kupp departed Los Angeles ranking third in franchise history for both receptions (634) and receiving touchdowns (57). He also became the first player in NFL history to record over 600 catches and 7,500 yards within his first 100 career games.
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Cooper Kupp injury history
Kupp’s career has been a balance of historic dominance and significant time spent in rehabilitation. While he famously "relearned how to run" after his 2018 ACL tear to become faster, recurring lower-body injuries eventually played a major role in the Rams' decision to release him in early 2025.
The first major setback of Kupp's career came in 2018 when he suffered a non-contact ACL tear in Week 10 against the Seahawks, missing the Rams' run to Super Bowl LIII. He used the recovery to study his running form, returning in 2019 reportedly faster than before. When the Rams returned to the playoffs in 2020, Kupp missed their game against the Green Bay Packers with a bruised knee. Los Angeles went on to lose that game as Green Bay advanced to the NFC Championship.
Though, the injuries after his triple-crown season have gained more attention. First, in 2022, he suffered a severe Grade 3 high ankle sprain that required surgery. This ended his season after just nine games, right as he was on pace to challenge his 2021 numbers.
The next season, Kupp's injury struggles started before Week 1. Kupp missed the first four games of the 2023 season after suffering a hamstring tweak in training camp that led to a "setback" in late August. This opened the door for rookie Puka Nacua to burst onto the scene, who tallied nearly 1,500 receiving yards.
In his final year with the Rams, Kupp sustained another high ankle sprain in Week 2 against the Cardinals. Although he avoided surgery this time, he missed four games and never returned to form.
After signing with Seattle, Kupp dealt with a mid-season stretch where he was sidelined for several weeks due to a combination of heel soreness and a familiar hamstring strain.
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Cooper Kupp contract
After being released by the Rams in early 2025, Cooper Kupp signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks. The contract included a $17.5 million signing bonus at signing.
The deal was intentionally structured to give the Seahawks flexibility as Kupp enters his mid-30s. Effectively, it was designed as a one-year trial with team options for the following two seasons.
Because his 2026 and 2027 salaries are not yet fully guaranteed, the Seahawks could release him before mid-February 2026 to save roughly $9.5 million in cap space, though they would still carry $8 million in dead money.. $9 million of his 2026 salary becomes fully guaranteed if he remains on the roster on the fifth day after the 2026 Super Bowl.
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