Need a team to root for in Super Bowl LVI? These players and coaches have Washington ties
Super Bowl LVI is less than a week away and Washington will have six players and two coaches with links to the state vying for the Lombardi Trophy.
Despite the Seattle Seahawks’ NFC West rivalry with the LA Rams, Washingtonians may have a reason to cheer for the Rams come Sunday as seven of the eight individuals with links to Washington don the blue and gold of Los Angeles.
LA Rams
Cooper Kupp - The most high profile player of the bunch, wide receiver Kupp claimed the triple crown in 2021, leading the NFL in receptions, yards, and receiving touchdowns. A wide receiver has never won the Most Valuable Player Award but Kupp is third-favorite for the award, according to Bovada, but lags far behind Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady.
Kupp was born in Yakima, Washington and attended A.C. Davis High School before playing college football at Eastern Washington. The 28-year-old enjoyed an illustrious career at Eastern Washington between 2013 and 2016, setting the FCS record for the most career receiving yards (6,464).
Kupp was also a four-time first-team FCS All-American, two-time Big Sky offensive player of the year and won the Jerry Rice and Walter Payton Awards in his time with the Eagles. He was drafted 69th overall by the Rams in the 2017 NFL Draft and made his first Pro Bowl in 2021.
Johnny Hekker - Hekker was born in Redmond, Washington before growing up in Bothell and attending Bothell High School. Hekker was both the quarterback and punter for Bothell, leading them to the state championship game in 2007.
Hekker committed to play college football as a punter at Oregon State before signing as a free agent with the St. Louis Rams. Hekker ranks as one of the best free agent signings in recent history, being named a four-time Pro Bowler and also being named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
His 65-yard punt in Super Bowl LIII ranks as the longest punt in Super Bowl history.
Coleman Shelton - Shelton was a utility player his first two playing seasons at the University of Washington after redshirting his freshman year. He played left tackle, left guard and right guard his redshirt freshman and sophomore years before nailing down the starting center spot his redshirt junior year. His efforts in his redshirt senior year earned him first team All-Pac-12 honors.
Shelton signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent out of college in 2018 and was signed by the Rams in September 2019. The 26-year-old has played in every game for the Rams this season including over 20% of the snaps in all three playoff games this season.
Greg Gaines - A teammate of Shelton’s at Washington, Gaines originally committed to Boise State before following head coach Chris Peterson from the Broncos to the Huskies. A nose tackle, Gaines won the Morris Trophy in 2018 which is awarded to the best defensive lineman in the Pac-12.
Gaines has been a big part of the Rams’ defense in 2021, racking up 55 tackles and 27 assisted tackles as well as 4.5 sacks. Since being selected 134th overall by the Rams in 2019 Gaines has seen his stats exponentially increase as he’s become a big part of the Rams defense.
Taylor Rapp - A graduate of Sehome High School in Bellingham and the University of Washington, Rapp has missed all three of the Rams’ playoff games this season due to a concussion. But the free safety looks set to clear concussion protocol and return to the team in time for Sunday.
Rapp has been a star since his college days when he was named a first-team All American by the Associated Press ahead of his junior year and he ultimately forewent his senior year to enter the 2019 NFL Draft.
Rapp has enjoyed a career year for the Rams, recording a career-high four interceptions to go along with six passes defensed and 81 tackles (51 solo). He also recovered a fumble.
Zac Robinson - Robinson is the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Rams but was on the 53-man roster for one game for the Seattle Seahawks. Robinson served as backup to Charlie Whitehurst in a 41-7 blowout loss to the New York Giants on Nov. 7, 2010. He was waived a day later.
Eric Yarber - Yarber, the wide receivers coach for the Rams, spent stints at both the Seahawks and Washington as a coach. He oversaw offensive quality control for the Seahawks’ 8-8 1998 season and was the wide receivers coach at Washington in 2005 and 2006.
Cincinnati Bengals
Drew Sample - The Bengals’ sole Washington representative comes in the form of tight end Drew Sample. Sample was born in Bellevue, Washington and attended Newport High School before playing college football at Washington from 2015 to 2018.
Sample spent much of his time at Washington as a backup until his senior year when he racked up 25 receptions for 252 yards and three touchdowns, earning him an honorable mention on the All-Pac 12 team and the 52nd overall pick by the Bengals in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Sample broke out in 2020 due to an early season-ending injury to teammate C.J. Uzomah, starting in 13 games and catching 40 passes for 349 yards and a touchdown. Sample has appeared in every game for the Bengals in 2021, including a season-high 90% of the snaps in the 27-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 9:26 AM with the headline "Need a team to root for in Super Bowl LVI? These players and coaches have Washington ties."
