The Los Angeles Rams aren’t just losing a talented receiver by parting ways with Cooper Kupp. They’re also losing a leader in the locker room and one of the smartest players in football.
As a team captain and veteran in the Rams’ building, Kupp took younger receivers under his wing and helped guide them in special ways. Just ask Puka Nacua how much Kupp has meant to his career.
Nacua benefited greatly from being Kupp’s teammate in Los Angeles, learning the ins and outs as a rookie in 2023 and spending the offseason working with him last year ahead of his second season. Nacua joined Kupp’s early morning workouts last spring and stayed attached at the hip in 2024, which led to another huge season for the former BYU receiver.
In an interview on Up and Adams, Nacua attempted to put into perspective what Kupp has meant to him in light of the news that Los Angeles plans to trade the veteran wideout.
“I feel like I’ve been spoiled, I’ve been blessed to be able to have Cooper Kupp be my mentor,” Nacua said. “To be able to follow him and to be able to watch him interact with everybody in our facility, being the leader and the team captain, and then to watch him be a dad and be a husband in the offseason and that time we got to spend together. And the basketball player that he is, to be able to compete against him at the same time. But then to watch him work in-season and how detailed he is and everything he does to take care of his body and to communicate with Matthew to be on the same page, it’s been a huge blessing and I frickin’ love that guy.”
.@AsapPuka on hearing the news that Cooper Kupp will be traded by the Rams 🥺🔊
“It feels weird… like we’re right there and then to have the offseason start immediately.”@heykayadams @RamsNFL | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/0CKQPIY0pk
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) February 5, 2025
Kupp announced the news of his impending departure on social media but that’s not how Nacua learned about this development. Kupp made sure to text his fellow Rams receivers to let them know the news was coming down the line.
Even days later, Nacua had a hard time believing it was real.
“He reached out to our receiver group chat before the news had broke and just seeing it on social media,” Nacua said. “And then honestly, before I came out here for the Super Bowl, I rechecked Twitter like, ‘Was I dreaming? Is the Luka (Doncic) and this stuff going on for real?’”
Nacua will continue being a productive receiver for the Rams, but things won’t be the same without Kupp on the sideline with him.
