Ram Digest

Cooper Kupp Knew Matthew Stafford Was Special Before Rams Season Started

Cooper Kupp saw something special in Matthew Stafford early on in Rams offseason workouts

Matt Galatzan

Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp, quite literally, had a historical connection in 2021, leading the Los Angeles Rams to their first Super Bowl win in two decades. 

Along the way, Kupp compiled one of the best single seasons for a wide receiver in NFL history, while Stafford had arguably the best statistical season of his career. 

And at no moment was their connection more noticeable than during their Super Bowl win, when Stafford hit Kupp on a no-look pass late in the game to set up the go-ahead score. 

The Rams would eventually go on to take the lead following the play, cementing their championship run. 

However, during a recent interview with Colin Cowherd, Kupp detailed how noticed something special about Stafford well before that throw, and even before the season began, with his QB pulling off a similar play during last year's OTAs.

“Probably the play that happened during OTAs, probably a year ago to the day almost, that it was like the light went on – like, ‘Oh, that is what makes this guy great’ – is the exact same play that we ran that he no-looked in the Super Bowl,” Kupp recalled. “That was the first time where I went back, I felt what he had done – I’m like, ‘I think he might’ve just no-looked that one’ – and I went back and watched it on film and seeing him manipulate people underneath and do what he did with his eyes and being able to throw the ball that he did, it was literally on the exact same play that he no-looked in the Super Bowl when he had that great one on that last drive. It was literally the exact same play, but it was like, ‘This guy has something that is different.’ He’s not a quarterback that’s reactive. You know the saying, ‘Take what the defense gives you.’ A lot of the time, that’s true, but he also understands how to say, ‘No, I’m going to dictate where this ball is going and move people and make sure I can make the throw I want to make that’s going to be a big play.'"

Now that Stafford and Kupp have one season of chemistry under their belt, it's hard to imagine they won't find a way to improve in 2022 -- a scary prospect for the rest of the NFL, which struggled to keep them in check a year ago.

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Rams? Click Here

Want to join in on the discussion? Click here to become a member of the Ram Digest message board community today!

Follow Ram Digest on Twitter and Facebook.

Published
Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan the Editor-In-Chief of RamDigest.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels. For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com

Home/News