Faith was a broad river running through Cooper Kupp Feb. 13 as the Los Angeles Rams wide receiver was named MVP of Super Bowl LVI.
On that day, Kupp caught eight passes, two for touchdowns, totaling 92 yards, and also ran for seven yards, according to Sports Spectrum.
But after the game, Kupp had other things on his mind besides personal heroics.
“There was just this vision that God revealed to me…”
After winning Super Bowl MVP, Cooper Kupp reveals a vision he received from God three years ago after the Rams lost Super Bowl LIII.@CooperKupp @RamsNFL #SuperBowl https://t.co/oydVm3TbUN pic.twitter.com/bZrmjE2cEP
— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) February 14, 2022
“It just comes down to this team, how we’ve prepared, the way we’ve loved on each other, trusted each other,” he said. “I don’t know, I don’t feel deserving of this. God is just so good. I’m just so thankful for the guys I get to be around, for the coaches, for my family.”
Kupp then took reporters on a journey to another place, and another time, where he had a vision from God.
“In 2019 we walked off the field that last time after losing to the Patriots; I wasn’t able to be a part of that thing,” he said.
“But I don’t know what it was, there was just this vision God revealed to me that we were going to come back, we were going to be part of a Super Bowl, we were going to win it. And somehow I was going to walk off the field as the MVP of the game,” he said.
Only one other person knew of that moment until Sunday.
“I shared that with my wife because I couldn’t tell anyone else obviously what that was, but from the moment this postseason started, there was just a belief, every game, that it was written already,” he said.
“It was written already and I just got to play free, knowing that I got to play from victory, not for victory. I got to play in a place where I was validated not from anything that happened on the field but because of my worth in God and my Father,” he said.
Kupp was asked a follow-up question about the vision.
“It was just walking off the field. It was as clear as day,” he said, according to Sports Spectrum. “I walked off the field, I turned around before walking back through the tunnel and it just hit me. It was as clear as I can see you guys here right now. Pretty incredible.”
Kupp has said that one of his favorite Bible passages is 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, which reads: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
He included part of that verse in a post-game Twitter post:
Do it to get a crown that will last forever.
— Cooper Kupp (@CooperKupp) February 14, 2022
Kupp was not the only player to speak of God after the game.
“God is great.”
Super Bowl champion Aaron Donald #SuperBowl @AaronDonald97 pic.twitter.com/EO9cRSnLV4
— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) February 14, 2022
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” LA defensive tackle Aaron Donald said after the game, according to The Sporting News. “God is great. I’m at a loss for words. I don’t know what to say. This is a blessing.”
Kupp was not shy about expressing his faith in the week leading up to the game.
“I think the thing that He has taught me is that you will find that you are most fulfilled, you will find the most joy, when you are rooted in your purpose, and specifically rooted in His purpose for you,” he told reporters. “That, to me, has been one of the best things about this year.”
Kupp said he does not play for trophies and awards.
“My motivation coming in every single day is to run the race in such a way as to honor God and the passions and the talents that He’s given me,” he said. “When I’m rooted in that, I am in a great place. I am able to play freely.”
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
