The Seattle Seahawks have plenty of important veterans on the team. Sam Darnold, Leonard Williams, and Demarcus Lawrence are just some of the names that come to mind.
However, wide receiver Cooper Kupp is another player who is crucial to the team’s success. Kupp is preparing for his second season with the Seahawks, and despite not playing at an elite level like he used to, Kupp is still being counted on heavily.
Head coach Mike Macdonald recently talked about Kupp’s impact, both on and off the field. We also recently saw first-hand Kupp’s impact during HBO’s Hard Knocks.
Mike Macdonald Says Kupp is a Great Teacher
Kupp has been in the NFL since 2017. Not many players make it a decade in the NFL, but it wasn’t always easy for Kupp.
The receiver grew up in Yakima, Washington, and wasn’t highly recruited coming out of high school. Kupp stayed in-state and played college ball for FCS Eastern Washington. The receiver dominated at that level and ended up being a third-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams.
Kupp had his best season with the Rams and won his first Super Bowl with the team. The veteran has yet to produce in Seattle the way he did in Los Angeles, but that doesn’t mean he’s not making an impact.
Macdonald recently praised Kupp’s football mind and revealed that the receiver has even taught him some things.
“A lot,” Macdonald said. “Actually, I was thinking about it today. I think he’s taught me more than I’ve taught him, which is pretty awesome. You just talk about force multipliers, not only is he a productive player on the field, high leverage moments I think that’s when we saw the best version of Coop last year. I think this is the best he’s looked that I’ve seen him since he got here.
Fans got to see that on display in a recent Hard Knocks episode. There’s a scene where Macdonald figures out a problem he had been dealing with, and it’s clear Kupp is the one who helps him get to that solution.
Macdonald then expressed belief that Kupp could be a good NFL coach one day.
“Oh he’d be phenomenal,” Macdonald said of Kupp. “He’d probably have my job. He’s got a job here, that’s for sure. I don’t even know if he’s interested. He’s got a lot of ball left to play, I know that.”
Kupp Still Important on the Field Too
Kupp isn’t JUST a mentor and football mind, though. The veteran caught 47 passes for 593 yards and two touchdowns in 2026. Kupp doesn’t have to worry about being a WR1 anymore, thanks to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but he plays his role well.
The Seahawks are slated to start Smith-Njigba, Kupp, and Rashid Shaheed in 2026. If Kupp still has another high-level season in him, this offense can be elite once again.
