“Eastern has given me the greatest gift I think anyone could ever ask for, and that is the opportunity to play the game that I love. Because of that I’m extremely grateful. And, on top of that, being able to provide such a good education here with such great people – all just culminated together into really just an awesome experience.”
Cooper Kupp in his EWU Eagles uniform when he played wide receiver.
When Cooper Kupp ’17 put on a lights-out performance to propel the Los Angeles Rams to victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2022 Super Bowl, it was another great day to be an Eagle.
Kupp, who played wide receiver for Eastern Washington University while earning his bachelor’s degree, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. That achievement capped a stellar 2021-22 NFL season during which Kupp earned the fabled “triple crown” for leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. After the season, Kupp was a unanimous First Team All-Pro selection and was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year by both the Associated Press and the Professional Football Writers of America. A few months later, he also brought home the “Best NFL Player” and “Best Championship Performance” trophies at ESPN’s 2022 ESPYs award show.
More recently, after eight seasons with the Rams, Kupp inked a three-year, $45 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks. The signing marked not just a welcome development for Kupp’s many home-state fans, but for Kupp himself. “Growing up watching Seattle, watching football being a huge part of my life, and then playing at Eastern Washington, it’s a full circle moment coming back and being able to throw on a Seattle Seahawks uniform, it’s a cool thing,” he said.
"One of the greatest and most dominant single-season performances by a wide receiver in NFL history." - Forbes online SportsMoney
Eastern was a great fit for Cooper—as both a student and athlete.
Earning a scholarship to play football at Eastern — a scholarship made possible by generous supporters of the Eagle Athletic Fund – allowed Kupp to follow his dreams. After a redshirt year, Kupp became Eastern’s starting wide receiver in 2013 and, over the next four seasons, rewrote EWU football history.
Photo: Ron Swords
EWU Roster Highlights
- 52 games playing for EWU, set 15 FCS, 11 Big Sky Conference and 26 EWU records
- Three Big Sky titles, and made the FCS Playoffs in three of his four seasons
- Four-time, first-team All-American, and won the 2013 Jerry Rice Award (top freshman in FCS) and 2015 Walter Payton Award
- 2019, STATS LLC named Kupp as the NCAA FCS Player of the Decade
- Collegiate career final stats, 428 receptions, 73 touchdowns and 6464 receiving yards
Kupp was equally committed to his studies at EWU, earning Academic All American honors three times, and wrapping up his college career with a Bachelor of Arts in economics before being drafted by the Rams later that year.
For more about Kupp’s award-winning legacy as an Eagle, check out GoEags!
Photo credit: Aaron Malmoe
“He didn’t waste a minute ever. I know a lot of people say it, but he truly wasn’t going to let anyone outwork him,” said former Eagle Head Football Coach Beau Baldwin, in a 2017 ESPN interview.
The inside scoop on Coop: How he inspired greatness on the red turf.
Photo credit left to right: Aaron Malmoe, Ron Swords
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