Cooper Kupp’s path to NFL stardom was not a straightforward one. It all began with a pivotal conversation with his father, Craig Kupp, who, as a former NFL quarterback, knew a thing or two about football himself. It was just a casual conversation during a car ride to basketball practice when Cooper was in 6th grade, but it left a lasting impression on little Cooper.
The Rams WR spoke about that transformative moment in an appearance on The Pivot podcast and remembered his father’s wise words.
Craig Kupp explained the harsh realities of pursuing dreams during the fateful car ride, telling his son that if he wanted to reach the top spot, he would have to work harder than anyone else he met or saw.
He didn’t feel the need to sugarcoat the journey and even warned Cooper that things might not always seem fair. And that stuck with Cooper when he revealed:
“That seed of just saying, ‘Hey, this is something I know, this is what I want to do,’ and then having someone tell me directly, like, ‘Hey, this is what it takes to do it,’ – from that moment on, it was a conscious part of how I approached practice, how I approached every part of my day.”
That five-minute car ride became a cornerstone of Cooper’s career. The lesson of doing more than anyone else to achieve his lofty goals was a driving force behind his success.
It’s also fostered a strong bond between father and son, with Craig’s experience as a professional athlete lending weight to his advice. Perhaps it’s that grounded perspective that allows Cooper to shake off comparisons to other wide receivers.
Cooper doesn’t mind comparisons
The WR’s perspective on comparisons in the NFL is refreshingly grounded, another trait he attributes to his father’s guidance. When asked about the comparisons to his peers in the league who are considered naturals, the Rams WR revealed that he shrugs them off with ease.
His father had already prepared him for this exact scenario, explaining to him that comparisons to other types of players in the NFL were inevitable, but that it was all part of the journey.
Cooper took this to heart and developed habits based on giving it his all and working tirelessly. As he developed physically and was able to keep up with the more naturally gifted receivers, these habits became his secret weapon, allowing him to grow on the field and compete at an increasingly higher level.
“Guys who had that already weren’t challenged, they didn’t have to do anything. They could show up on Friday night and dominate whoever was in front of them. I couldn’t do that…NNow I know how to play this game technically and tactically, and now my body is also making physical progress.“
That attitude has become his shield against the constant comparisons in the NFL. He understands that those evaluations will always be a part of the game, but instead of obsessing over how he compares to others, he focuses on his own performance and development.
