Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp quickly became quarterback Matthew Stafford's favorite target in his first season under center in LA.
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A good portion of their chemistry can be traced back to eating breakfast together every day. It turns out a little eggs and bacon with a pal each morning can lead to 145 receptions, 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. Their connection allowed Kupp to become the first football player since Steve Smith in 2005 to claim the receiving triple crown. In layman's terms, it was one of the greatest receiving seasons ever.
Kupp is a prolific route runner with excellent footwork, and of course, excellent hands. The First-Team All-Pro rarely drops a ball, and it's probably because he's been catching passes from NFL quarterbacks for a long time. In fact, he caught them in his backyard growing up.
Kupp's father, Craig Kupp, was a signal caller for the Phoenix Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys.
Cooper Kupp's Dad Craig Kupp
Harry How via Getty Images (left), Mitchell Leff via Getty Images (right)
Craig Kupp played football, basketball and tennis at Selah High School in Selah, Washington. He started his college football career at Montana Tech before transferring back to Pacific Lutheran University in his home state.
Kupp took over as Pacific Lutheran's starting quarterback as a junior but started getting NFL looks as a senior. He set school records for passing touchdowns in a single season and only had three interceptions out of 286 pass attempts that year. It was at Pacific Lutheran where Craig met his wife and Cooper's mom Karin Kupp, who was a star soccer player.
Craig Kupp's NFL Career
April 14th: Happy 54th Birthday to former Cowboys quarterback #9 Craig Kupp (1991) who was born on this day in 1967. After Troy Aikman suffered a knee injury in the 12th game against the Redskins, Kupp ascended from 3rd string to backup QB behind Steve Beuerlein. #90sCowboys pic.twitter.com/dVWh7nPvTg
— 90’s Dallas Cowboys (@90s_cowboys) April 14, 2021
Kupp's strong senior campaign combined with his 6-foot-4, 215-pound build were enough for the New York Giants to draft him in the fifth round of the 1990 NFL Draft.
However, he was cut before the season and subsequently spent short stints with the Phoenix Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys. He made a big impact on Troy Aikman during his time in Dallas as evidenced by Aikman's recollection of him while calling a Rams game against the Seattle Seahawks in 2019.
Never forget when Troy Aikman murdered Cooper Kupp’s dad on live television pic.twitter.com/2FjNZQKkIj
— JT (@jarretttaft) January 31, 2022
Craig "Two Kupps of Coffee" Kupp has a nice ring to it.
Kupp went on to play for the San Antonio Riders and Montreal Machine of the World Football League before retiring in 1992. Despite his short-lived pro career, it's pretty remarkable a guy from an NAIA school was drafted in the first place.
Now, Craig Kupp is a regional sales manager for the Kwik Lok Corporation in Yakima, Washington, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also spends his days no longer drafting his son in fantasy football.
Craig Kupp Can't Draft His Son in Fantasy Football
So Craig Kupp @Kuppirate plays fantasy football. He enjoys it. The only issue? His league is now saying they will no longer just let him have his son on his team, Cooper Kupp. Really fun interview via The Fantasy Show on @EspnPlus @cooperkupp #FantasyLife pic.twitter.com/tUDemuVDvM
— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) November 12, 2021
A father-son bond has no boundaries. That includes fantasy football. Craig's fantasy league traditionally allowed him to draft his son out of the kindness of their hearts. At least until this season.
The league decided they were doing away with the courtesy after Cooper's huge year won Craig several matchups. He'll have to compete for his son next year like everyone else.
I imagine if Craig doesn't get him he'll send a causal text to Cooper the week he faces off against him.
"Hey son, you're looking pretty hurt out there. You should take care of your body this week and get some rest. Just a thought. Anyway, best of luck! Love, Dad."
Cooper's Brother & Grandfather Also Played in the NFL
Listen in as EWU WR Cooper Kupp's father Craig and grandfather Jake talk about the family legacy and what lies ahead https://t.co/e4Uvu8TtTR pic.twitter.com/9zqjm5siwT
— Brian McLaughlin (@BrianMacWriter) February 22, 2017
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The Kupp lineage extends all over the field. While Craig and Cooper are a quarterback and wide receiver, respectively, Craig's dad Jake Kupp had a 12-year career as a guard for the Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. He made the Pro Bowl in 1969.
"Getting to play two years with my brother was really special... he's really been the perfect example for me."@EWUFootball's Ketner Kupp reflects on the foundation for success that his brother, former teammate, and current @RamsNFL WR Cooper Kupp laid for him. pic.twitter.com/dGMiYAuV6V
— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 20, 2019
Ketner Kupp, Cooper's younger brother, was a linebacker and played at Eastern Washington University like Cooper. He spent the 2019 season playing alongside his older brother on the Rams but turned to coaching in 2020. That season, he was a defensive analyst for his alma mater. He then took over as the linebackers coach for his parents' alma mater, Pacific Lutheran, in 2021.
The Kupps are a football family through and through. They'll cheer with all their might as Cooper and the Rams face the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium.
