LOS ANGELES — They stood in a circle in a warehouse converted into a gym, surrounded by exercise equipment and standing on matted floors. It was a space that Cooper Kupp had turned into his dojo during his time with the Rams, through which many teammates had passed through for offseason training.
On this particular day, more than Kupp’s usual workout crew were there. The regulars, Puka Nacua and Jordan Whittington, flanked him while quarterback Matthew Stafford and former Rams offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth completed the circle, all there to say farewell to Kupp before he moved to Seattle to start his tenure with the Seahawks after being released after eight years with the Rams.
“It was a sad day,” Whittington recalled. “That’s somebody that’s a really good friend of mine, that’s a big brother. So yeah, that day was emotional. At the same time, you’re excited for him, he had a new opportunity. It was bittersweet.”
“I know this will not be the last time I’ll see you,” Nacua added of the sentiment that day. “He’s always been a phone call or a text away.”
If that was “see you later”, then Sunday is “later” as the Rams (7-2) prepare to host the Seahawks (7-2) in Kupp’s return to SoFi Stadium, the arena he once called home and where he was the MVP of the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI team.
Speaking with reporters in Seattle on Wednesday, Kupp said that he does not view this as a revenge game, adding it would be disrespectful to his teammates for him to value one game over another due to personal reasons.
Back when Kupp first signed with Seattle, he spoke about some of his confusion about why the Rams wanted to move forward and release him when a trade did not materialize. He told reporters at the time he had not received an explanation from the organization.
But on Wednesday, Kupp said some of those questions had since been answered.
“It was important enough for me to reach out and try to get that. So, I’m glad to be at that place,” Kupp said. “I’m looking forward to being able to see some of the people there pregame and give them a hug. But then when it’s time to go, it’s time to go.”
That relentless approach to the task at hand was part of what made Kupp such a leader in the Rams’ locker room during his eight years in Los Angeles. And as a member of head coach Sean McVay’s first draft class with the Rams in 2017, he played a big role in implementing the culture that McVay wanted to establish with the team.
“He knew when to be able to speak up at the right time, but it was through his work. He modeled the way and I think that’s really cool,” McVay said. “There’s a certain type of person … we want different personalities. I think that’s what’s beautiful about the collection of people that come together for a football team, but I do think that when people are thrust into leadership roles, there’s a certain example and there’s a certain standard that becomes what the norms are and what’s expected. He’s elevated a lot of people in this building.”
There will be a certain strangeness for the Rams on Sunday seeing Kupp in a new jersey, especially that of an NFC West rival. And to see him after so long, instead of his usual regular presence in meeting rooms and on the field.
“We’ll have to beat him up before the game,” tight end Tyler Higbee joked. “No, it’ll be an emotional experience for him and a lot of guys that have spent so much time with him. Always rooting for that guy, brother of mine, so it’ll be good to share the field with him.”
Kupp can expect many staffers to say hello before the game, and players likely after so as not to disrupt pregame routines. But one player has already staked out a claim to Kupp’s jersey after the game.
“If I see him take it off to somebody else, I might hit somebody on our team. Respectfully so,” Nacua said.
Whether or not a tribute video will be played on Kupp’s behalf Sunday, the former Ram isn’t thinking too much about it.
“I mean, I didn’t die,” Kupp joked. “I’m here. I appreciate it. I’m obviously so thankful for my time there. Nothing but love for that city. I think it’ll be fun. I’m excited to go out there.”