In a dramatic NFC Championship Game that will be remembered for its personal narrative as much as its football, Cooper Kupp delivered the decisive blow against his former team. The Seattle Seahawks secured a hard-fought 31-27 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, booking their ticket to Super Bowl LX, with Kupp's third-quarter touchdown standing as the winning score.
A Touchdown Steeped in Narrative
The game's climax was sharpened by postgame revelations, reported by The Athletic's Michael Silver, which painted a picture of a deeply strained relationship between Kupp and the Rams organization. According to the report, Kupp believed the Rams not only pushed him toward retirement after he hit free agency but also actively discouraged other teams from offering him more than a veteran minimum salary, suggesting his career was in decline due to age and injuries.
Seahawks Advance, Kupp Claims the Moment
While the Seahawks advanced to their fourth Super Bowl in franchise history, per The Sporting News, thanks in part to quarterback Sam Darnold's 346-yard, three-touchdown performance, it was Kupp who authored the headline moment. His four-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter extended Seattle's lead to 31-20. Even after the Rams' Puka Nacua narrowed the gap to 31-27, Kupp's score held up as the game-winner.
Kupp finished the game with four receptions for 36 yards and that crucial touchdown, ranking fourth on the team in receiving behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker, and Rashid Shaheed. After the final whistle, he took to social media with a simple, triumphant message: "IT WAS WRITTEN."
The Backstory: A Bitter Divorce from Los Angeles
The reporting around Kupp's exit from Los Angeles reveals a breakup that transcended typical football business. Back in February, Kupp had stated the Rams intended to trade him, adding, "I don't agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in L.A." He was ultimately released in March before signing with the Seahawks.
Silver's report details that the Rams chose to unceremoniously cut ties with the former All-Pro wide receiver rather than negotiate a salary reduction, allegedly urging him to retire. Kupp came to believe that some Rams officials had cautioned potential suitors against offering him a substantial contract. Reflecting on the end of his tenure, Kupp told Silver, "When it ended with the Rams, we weren't in a good place."
The Ultimate Payback
Now, the Rams are left to grapple with the stark optics of the situation. The player they could not trade, then released, directly contributed to their elimination from the NFC Championship Game. Cooper Kupp, once a cornerstone in Los Angeles, is now headed to the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, where they will face the New England Patriots. It is a story of redemption and revenge that adds a compelling layer to the Seahawks' championship pursuit.
