Cooper Kupp credits wife Anna Marie for his NFL career, calling her the “absolute warrior” who supported their family through college while he focused on football.
At a Glance
- Cooper Kupp married high-school sweetheart Anna Marie in 2015 after meeting at a track meet in 2012
- Anna worked full-time in college so Cooper could train, saying “I supported us monetarily”
- The couple has three sons: Cooper “June” (2018), Cypress (2021), and Solas (2023)
- Why it matters: The Seahawks receiver says he “may not be in the NFL” without his wife’s sacrifices
From Track Meet to Lifelong Partnership
Cooper Kupp knew he would marry Anna Marie Croskrey the day they met. The pair locked eyes at a high-school track meet in 2012 when Anna presented him with a medal. “I told my mom the day I met her, ‘I’m going to marry this girl,'” Cooper told ESPN in February 2022.
The relationship quickly turned long-distance. Cooper stayed in Washington to play football at Eastern Washington University, while Anna enrolled at the University of Arkansas-1,800 miles apart. After five months, they decided they couldn’t live separately. Anna transferred to Eastern Washington in fall 2014, and the couple got engaged in March of that year.
The Financial Sacrifice Behind an NFL Dream
While Cooper focused on football, Anna took on the couple’s financial burden. She worked full-time at a local restaurant, handling both register duties and serving tables.
“I supported us monetarily through college,” Anna told ESPN. “I was working full time so that he didn’t have to worry about that, so that he could focus.”
Cooper insists this sacrifice made his professional career possible. “Without a doubt, there’s no doubt in my mind, not only would I not be here where I am today without her or accomplishing the things that I would be doing,” he said. “I really believe I may not be in this-I may not be in the NFL if it wasn’t for her.”
A Wedding With Helmets Instead of Garters
The couple married on June 20, 2015, at Oakshire Estate & Airfield in Yakima, Washington. More than 400 guests attended the ceremony that blended traditional vows with football flair.
After exchanging rings, Anna handed Cooper his Eastern Washington football helmet. He wore it while carrying his new bride down the aisle. Instead of a garter toss, Cooper placed a garter around a football and threw it over the reception tables to awaiting guests.
“A lot of people ask, ‘Why did you guys get married so young? Didn’t you feel you were missing out?'” Anna told ESPN. “And you’re telling them, ‘No, we actually think the opposite. We feel so lucky to have found someone that we love and cherish so much so early.'”
Three Sons, Three Different Stories
The Kupps’ first son, Cooper Jameson “June” Kupp, arrived on July 3, 2018. Cooper’s Instagram post welcomed “our greatest little blessing Junebug” and prayed the child would “live boldly to pass along this love to the world.”
Cypress Stellar Kupp joined the family on January 17, 2021. The parents posted identical photos showing June’s hand over the newborn’s chest with the caption: “We are filled beyond anything we could ever imagine. God is good.”
Solas Reign Kupp completed the trio in June 2023. The couple shared a black-and-white photo announcing: “Born into his mother’s arms, we are so thankful for the blessing of this third little soul we get to raise up into a man of God!”
The Athletic Wife Who Outruns NFL Players
Anna’s athletic background rivals her husband’s. She competed in basketball, volleyball, track, and cross country in high school, then became a heptathlete at both the University of Arkansas and Eastern Washington University.
“I’d go and do a CrossFit workout with her and she would just run laps around me in these workouts,” Cooper told ESPN. “I mean, it is unbelievable.”
In 2022, Anna joined a women’s basketball league with Kelly Stafford, wife of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. Cooper operated the scoreboard-with mixed results. “They failed on it multiple times. It was comical,” Kelly Stafford said on her podcast. Anna confirmed: “Yes-and we let them know.”
Game Days and 2 A.M. Wake-Up Calls
During the 2022 NFL season, Cooper told News Of Los Angeles that Anna handles the morning chaos while he focuses on football. “I go in very early in the season and my wife then is taking the brunt of the mornings. Every morning, she’s got the boys and it’s not like I’m just sleeping in, I’m at work, but she’s still got to take that stuff on.”
He continued: “The things she allows me to do to pursue being the best version of me as a football player could not be done without her.”
Anna’s support extends beyond childcare. She watches game film with Cooper, leaves cookies in teammates’ lockers, and has cheered from the sidelines since his college days. When the Rams won Super Bowl LVI, Anna and their sons stood on the field amid falling confetti as she wrote: “Tears flowing, heart racing, kind of happiness. Champions of the world!”
The Secret to Record-Breaking Performance
Cooper credits Anna for both tangible and emotional support throughout his career. She manages his nutrition, assists with injury recovery, and cares for their children while maintaining high expectations.
“It’s hard to put into words,” Cooper told ESPN. “I just don’t think I can sit here and tell you just off the top of my head and have it do her the justice that she deserves for all this.”
High-school friend Austin Wagner agrees: “Anna is his rock. I don’t think there’s a Cooper without what Anna’s done for him. She’s a person that really expects a lot out of the people around her and has kind of a high threshold for excellence… Cooper works harder because of that.”
After the Seahawks defeated the Rams in December 2025 to secure a playoff spot, Anna posted on Instagram: “I will never stop being proud of the man” Cooper is. He responded: “I love you Anna Marie. Thank you for being my rock. 😘”
Key Takeaways
- Cooper and Anna Kupp’s relationship began at a high-school track meet in 2012
- Anna’s financial support through college allowed Cooper to focus entirely on football
- The couple married in 2015 and now has three sons
- Anna’s athletic background includes competing as a college heptathlete
- Cooper consistently credits his wife as the driving force behind his NFL success
