After a nearly historic season, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp took home the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award at the 2022 NFL Honors ceremonies. In a close race between Kupp and Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, the Rams WR’s insane numbers gave him the edge. Kupp was also awarded PFN’s Offensive Player of the Year award.
Cooper Kupp wins NFL Offensive Player of the Year award
Heading into last offseason, things were looking dire for Kupp and the Rams’ offense. However, a surprise trade that saw Los Angeles acquire Matthew Stafford from the Lions to replace the struggling Jared Goff made all the difference in the world. Stafford and his deep-play ability lit a fire under this Rams offense, and Kupp was the biggest benefactor.
Kupp finished the regular season with 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns, securing the receiving triple crown. In a 17-game season, he was just 4 receptions shy of Michael Thomas’ single-season catch record and 17 yards from Calvin Johnson’s single-season yards record.
Kupp joins a long list of talented Rams WRs
It might not be something that people remember after a few years of mediocrity, but the Rams were head and shoulders above the rest of the NFL in the early 2000s. This was thanks to one of the greatest wide receiver duos in NFL history: Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt.
Bruce retired with over 1,000 career receptions and more than 15,200 receiving yards to go with 91 touchdowns. Holt caught 920 passes for over 13,300 yards and 74 touchdowns during his 11-year career. Both of these legendary receivers have had an impact on what Kupp has done this season on his way to becoming the NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
In a recent interview during Super Bowl media week, Kupp was asked about his relationship with those receivers and what “The Greatest Show on Turf” means to him.
“The Rams’ history of wide receivers, it goes back even, you know, 50, 60, 70 years, really,” Kupp said. “So, you know, having guys like Torry and Bruce stick around, I mean, those guys are very involved still with the LA Rams and have been able to, you know, have them come in here and talk to us and be able to pick their brains on certain things and their willingness. Also, share about what stuff they’ve seen a lot of the experiences they have in this league.”
With a Super Bowl win on Sunday, Kupp could join the pantheon of Rams receivers with a long history of success.