SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) 鈥� While Cooper Kupp donned , the veteran wide receiver simultaneously received heaps of praise from his teammates.
Four years removed from the most productive season of his career, Kupp will become the sixth player in NFL history to win a Super Bowl MVP, and then play in the Super Bowl with another team when he and the Seahawks square off with the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Unlike was the case in his prosperous 2021 season, Kupp didn鈥檛 win the AP Offensive Player of the Year award, nor the receiving triple crown in 2025.
But, Kupp endeared himself to teammates like Dareke Young during the veteran wideout鈥檚 first season with the Seahawks after eight exemplary ones with the Los Angeles Rams. Young has been most impressed with Kupp鈥檚 unselfishness while Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the NFL in receiving yards.
鈥淗e won a Triple Crown, and then he comes and he鈥檚 wide receiver No. 2,鈥� Young said. 鈥淪ome receivers might not like that. But, you can鈥檛 tell if it upsets him or not. 鈥� that鈥檚 just a guy that you aspire to be like, that鈥檚 just team first.鈥�
It isn鈥檛 just the way Kupp, 32, has embraced a secondary role that has stood out most to Young and others. Rather, it鈥檚 how Kupp has led by example in myriad ways, which in the build-up to Super Bowl unsurprisingly deals with his preparation.
鈥淵ou got to go through your process,鈥� Kupp said. 鈥淎nd right now, it鈥檚 about handling our business.鈥�
And whenever Kupp does speak up with his teammates, it鈥檚 often worthwhile 鈥� like when he took the time to during Thursday morning鈥檚 round of interviews.
鈥淚f he does say things, he鈥檚 one of those guys where the entire room is dead silent, and they鈥檙e super focused on what he鈥檚 saying because we know that he doesn鈥檛 waste his breath,鈥� Darnold said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 always going to be able to say something very mindful, and for us, speaking for the players, but also the coaches, he鈥檚 had a huge impact on all of us in that building.鈥�
What Kupp has been best known for in his first year in the Emerald City is his run-blocking. On a team that finished the season with the 10th-most rushing yards per game, Kupp set the standard for what was expected of receivers on the perimeter despite his 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame.
鈥淐oop isn鈥檛 a guy that lifts the whole weight room,鈥� Young said. 鈥淪o, his technique is just always perfect, or has to be perfect when dealing with bigger guys so he doesn鈥檛 get thrown around.鈥�
Smith-Njigba praised Kupp, who has 681 catches for 8,369 yards receiving and 59 touchdowns in his NFL career, for being so willing to put his body on the line. It鈥檚 especially commendable from his teammates鈥� perspectives considering injuries plagued Kupp over his last three years in Los Angeles, which contributed to last season.
This year in Seattle, Kupp鈥檚 practice repetitions were limited to help him get through a full season, which he nearly did while playing 16 out of 17 games and amassing the second-most yards receiving on the team with 593.
Kupp hasn鈥檛 just been an inspiration for younger teammates like Rashid Shaheed, who used to watch highlights of him while he was a four-time FCS All-America wide receiver at Eastern Washington. Kupp has also provided the blueprint for how to replicate, or at least achieve similar success.
鈥淏eing his teammate, I see how he鈥檚 had so much success throughout his whole career,鈥� Shaheed said. 鈥淢an, he鈥檚 so smart. I try to take bits and pieces from not only practice film, but from what he says in the meeting room. It鈥檚 like having another coach on the field. He鈥檚 an amazing guy.鈥�
And Kupp isn鈥檛 interested in hanging up his cleats any time soon. He brushed aside any questions about him contemplating retirement, and offensive lineman Grey Zabel fully expects Kupp to continue playing for 鈥渕any years鈥� thanks to his football IQ.
It would be quite the swan song if Kupp were to go out on top with his second Super Bowl championship and forgo the 2026 season. He might not be the star of the show for this Super Bowl the way he was in 2022, but Kupp has been around the block enough to know how to advise the Seahawks鈥� prodigal wide receiver on how to handle himself ahead of the big game.
鈥淗e just tells me to be myself and just control the storm, the Super Bowl storm and make sure you鈥檙e ready,鈥� Smith-Njigba said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 always preached process over results, so just sticking to the process and making sure I nail it down and I get up Sunday ready to go.鈥�
___
AP NFL:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
