The NFL confirmed on Wednesday night that the Los Angeles Rams will face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 11 and Week 16 of the 2025 campaign.
Assuming things go according to plan, that Week 11 matchup will be the first time that Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp will play against his former team, which drafted him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
During NFL Network's schedule release program on Wednesday night, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford spoke about his relationship with Kupp, which they built when they were teammates from 2021 to 2024.
"Yeah, I've been texting with him some, just checking in on him," Stafford said about Kupp, relayed NFL.com's Nick Shook. "He's a few miles away in a different colored jersey and all that kind of stuff, but when we get to talking and texting, it's the same old stuff, just giving each other a hard time and having fun. I did ask him about this. I was like, 'Am I going to be able to say what's up to you pregame? What's the deal?' He's like, 'I'm going to give you a big bear hug.'"
The Rams allowed Kupp and Stafford to explore trades this past winter, albeit under different circumstances. Los Angeles released Kupp at the start of free agency on March 12, but the club ultimately agreed for Stafford to remain its QB1 through at least the upcoming season.
Kupp signed a three-year, $45M deal to join Seattle after injuries limited him to 33 regular-season games over the past three campaigns. Before those setbacks, he earned Super Bowl LVI Most Valuable Player Award honors for the Rams' win over the Cincinnati Bengals in February 2022.
"I'm excited," Stafford added about seeing Kupp as an opponent later this fall. "Obviously, it's tough when you've played with a guy and had as much success as we've had together and then move on. But, you play this game long enough, you understand it's part of the business, and I think he gets that too. But at the same time, I'll be happy to see him. Hopefully, he plays great, and we come away with a win. I'm always pulling for him, always pulling for Coop, but always want the Rams to be coming out on top."
Like Stafford, Kupp wanted to stay with Los Angeles for another year. The Rams had other plans, and Kupp likely will have something to prove to his former club on Nov. 16.
