Cooper Kupp was a really solid receiver for the Rams in his first four NFL seasons. In 2019 and 2020, he totaled 186 catches for 2,135 yards with 13 touchdowns, proving to be a go-to receiver for Jared Goff.
But what he did this season was something no one saw coming. No one expected him to be Offensive Player of the Year. No one thought he’d come close to breaking Calvin Johnson’s single-season record. No one bet on him to lead the NFL in receptions, yards and touchdown catches.
From Week 1 to the Super Bowl, Kupp put together the greatest season we’ve ever seen from a wide receiver. During the regular season, he caught 145 passes for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns, which are incredible numbers. But he didn’t suddenly drop off in the playoffs despite defenses paying so much attention to him.
In the Rams’ four postseason wins, he caught 33 of 42 targets for 478 yards and six touchdowns. Only Larry Fitzgerald’s numbers in 2008 rival Kupp’s when the Cardinals wideout caught 30 passes for 546 yards and seven touchdowns during Arizona’s run to the Super Bowl.
Kupp’s remarkable playoff performance brought his regular-season and postseason totals to 178 catches, 2,425 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’s the first player in NFL history with more than 2,000 receiving yards in a season, blowing by the previous record of 1,977 yards held by Fitzgerald.
His 178 receptions are also an NFL record for the regular season and postseason combined, beating Michael Thomas’ mark of 156 catches in 17 games two years ago.
The only record he came up short of breaking was Randy Moss’ 24 touchdowns with the Patriots in 2007. That year, Moss scored 23 times during the regular season but in three playoff games, he caught just seven passes for 94 yards and one touchdown.
Kupp sits alone as the one player who caught at least 130 passes, had 1,800-plus yards and scored at least 20 touchdowns in a season (including playoffs), and it’s possible no receiver will ever join him. That’s how historic his 2021 season was.
And what better way to cap it off than to win Super Bowl MVP? Kupp deserved the award after scoring two touchdowns, including the game-winner, helping carry the Rams on their final drive. He came up short in the regular-season MVP voting, receiving only one vote to finish third in the poll, but Kupp would probably rather be a Super Bowl MVP than a regular-season MVP without a ring.
So to put a bow on his 2021 season, here’s everything he accomplished:
- Receiving triple crown
- Pro Bowl
- First-team All-Pro
- Offensive Player of the Year
- Super Bowl MVP
It might be a while before we see a season like that from a wide receiver, if ever.
