End of an era: Cooper Kupp officially leaves LA, writes heartfelt goodbye

The Los Angeles Rams were seeking a trade for wide receiver Cooper Kupp but ultimately released him on Wednesday after failing to find a team to trade. Kupp is a free agent for the first time in his NFL career, having spent all eight of his seasons with the Rams.

Kupp leaving LA against his wishes

The Rams chose Kupp in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft and he made an impact almost immediately. By 2021, he was helping the team to their second Super Bowl victory in franchise history, earning Super Bowl MVP honors. He won the triple crown that season, leading the league in catches (145), receiving yards (1,947), and touchdowns (16).

He didn’t have his best season last year though, with just 67 catches for 710 receiving yards and six touchdowns. The Rams finished the regular season at 10-7, making it to the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Kupp had seven catches for 90 yards in the Rams' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

When the Rams decided to trade Kupp last month, he made it clear he wasn’t happy about the decision.

“I don’t agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in L.A.,” Kupp wrote on social media. “Still, if there’s one thing that I have learned over the years: there are so many things that are out of your control, but it is how you respond to these things that you will look back on and remember.”

He took to social media again on Wednesday to express his gratitude for his time with the Rams and to state his excitement for better things to come.

“It’s about providing moments. Shared experiences.. That is what makes the ending of these last eight years so difficult. It’s the ending of something we have enjoyed building with you. Thank you for these shared moments. Thank you LA...”

Kupp had two years left on his three-year, $80 million deal with the Rams and was owed $20 million for 2025 and just short of that for 2026. He is expected to have no shortage of suitors for the 2025 season.

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