Seahawks WR Cooper Kupp opens up about Rams storyline with Super Bowl trip on the line

Earlier this season, current Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp insisted that going up against the Los Angeles Rams, his former team, was just "another football game." 

That can't be said about this coming Sunday's clash between the clubs, as the winner will advance to Super Bowl LX. Understandably, Kupp was asked on Thursday if he'll have any extra emotions when he enters Seattle's Lumen Field ahead of the NFC Championship Game. 

Cooper Kupp knows everyone playing in Seahawks-Rams title game has a story

"No," Kupp responded, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "You take things one day at a time. I’ve touched on this a little bit. We all have a story. All these guys here that step on this field, they’ve all had a story to get them to this point. They’ve all had a journey of what this year has been, what the last few years have been, to come to this point. Mine is just one of 53 that are going to be on that field. And my story, this is an unbelievable storyline, the chances of this ends up being what it is. And I’m really excited about that. But this is the Seahawks going into an NFC Championship Game and trying to get the job done."

Kupp played for the Rams from when he entered the league via the 2017 draft up until he was released last offseason, and he famously earned Super Bowl LVI Most Valuable Player honors with the club in February 2022. Last March, he said he didn’t have "a ton of clarity" from the Rams regarding why they moved on from him. Later, Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay seemed to disagree with Kupp about that take. 

Back in Week 11, Kupp caught three passes for 23 yards at the Rams. In Week 16, he tallied three catches for 39 yards with a lost fumble versus Los Angeles. 

In total, Kupp finished the regular season with 47 receptions for 593 yards and two touchdowns. 

What Cooper Kupp is excited about heading into NFC title game

"That’s the great thing about football," Kupp continued. "It’s all these guys. All these guys have different stories, and we all get to play for one another. I mean, it’s a powerful thing when all 50 guys are playing for their purpose. But it’s even more powerful when you’re playing for the guys next to you and the people lining up alongside you. And that’s what I’m excited about, is the guys that are in this room that you want to go out there and win for, the coaches that put so much time into this that you want to go and execute your job for. And we’ve got a lot of guys that live that, that are about it. And that’s what makes this a really exciting thing for me."

As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Seahawks as 2.5-point home favorites against the Rams. One wonders if Kupp will feel some extra emotions if he scores a vital touchdown en route to helping Seattle punch its ticket to a future Super Bowl showdown.