Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp have been the heart and soul of the Los Angeles Rams for the last few years, but that duo is about to be broken up.
Kupp announced that the Rams intend to trade him this offseason, likely marking an end to his successful tenure in L.A. Stafford’s future is also up in the air as although he plans to play in 2025, his contracts situation needs to be sorted out.
It would be a shock if Stafford is not back with the Rams though, which means he will be on a different team than his best fried Kupp. With that being the case, Stafford spoke to CBS Sports about how difficult it is to lose a close friend and teammate and what Kupp has meant to him and the Rams organization:
“It’s tough. I’ve been around long enough to know anything is possible, but Cooper’s been a pillar of this organization and this community for a long time, since he got drafted here. His ability to impact the guys in our locker room, obviously his play on the field and the people in the community he’s been able to impact, it’s incredible. Super Bowl MVP, the guy’s as good as it gets when it comes to making plays on the grass, but he’s probably even better in our locker room, meeting rooms and obviously as a family man. Lucky to get to spend the time that I got to spend with him. Probably spent more time with Cooper Kupp than any other teammate I’ve ever had as far as in the building and talking football and being about football, so I’ll miss him not being on the same team.”
The Kupp and Stafford pairing paid immediate dividends for L.A. as the former won the receiving triple crown in the latter’s first season with the Rams. They continued that great work in the postseason, leading the Rams to a Super Bowl victory.
Injuries have hampered Kupp since though, unfortunately, which has limited his production on the field. That is why the Rams are looking to move on, but that still doesn’t make it any easier for fans and his soon-to-be former teammates.
Malik Nabers recruiting Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp to Giants
Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp being teammates next year is technically still a possibility if the former cannot sort out his contract situation with the Rams and ends up leaving.
Malik Nabers is doing his part to try to make that happen, publicly recruiting both Stafford and Kupp to the New York Giants.
