Michael Irvin doesn’t just throw out takes—he calls his shots. And this time, he’s got a message for the entire NFL: the Cooper Kupp – Sam Darnold duo in Seattle is about to give defenses nightmares. While most people were caught off guard by the Seahawks’ moves, Irvin says he saw it coming all along. More importantly, he believes this pairing is exactly what Seattle needed to take its offense to the next level.
“Cooper Kupp, sense of timing, and understanding of timing, and understanding of defenses, and understanding where he needs to be, and not only where, but when he needs to be there, second to none in anybody in the NFL,” Irvin warned in his podcast. Simply put, Kupp’s football IQ and ability to read defenses make him the perfect security option for Darnold. If defenses don’t figure out how to stop it fast, Seattle’s passing game is going to be a serious problem.
Seattle’s been setting this plan in motion for a while. First, they moved on from Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. Then, they changed direction at offensive coordinator, bringing in Kent Kubiak to run a West Coast-style offense. And the biggest shift? Letting go of Geno Smith and bringing in Darnold, who thrived in a similar system in Minnesota. “I told you they were going to get Sam Darnold. Now, get this—Sam Darnold, who just went 14-3 with Minnesota, runs that same offense,” Michael Irvin explained. In other words, Seattle wasn’t making random moves—they were building something specific.
And now, with Kupp in the mix, the vision is clear. Unlike traditional outside receivers who win with size and athleticism, Kupp’s game is built on precision, timing, and knowing exactly where to be. Irvin’s been hyping up this offensive approach for a while, saying, “You guys call it the Kyle Shanahan scheme, or Sean McVay scheme, but really, Mike Shanahan, and they’ve been running that forever.” His point? This isn’t just some trendy offensive system—it’s a time-tested strategy that works.
The Rams didn’t just sit back—they made a bold move, swapping Kupp for Davante Adams. Now, don’t get it twisted—Adams is him when it comes to dominating outside. But losing Kupp? That’s a different kind of L. “Davante Adams is better than Cooper Kupp, in my opinion, at playing pure wide receiver outside,” Irvin admitted. And yeah, Adams can cook DBs one-on-one, but Kupp’s real magic is in his route-running IQ. He knows exactly where to be and when, which is why Seattle went all-in on him. Meanwhile, Rams fans? They were not vibing with the trade—some were downright furious.They were not vibing with the trade—some were downright furious.
This isn’t just Seattle shuffling pieces—they’re flipping the whole script. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is stepping into a bigger role outside, while Kupp is pulling up as the experienced, clutch guy Darnold needs. And if Irvin’s right (which, let’s be real, he’ll definitely remind everyone if he is), Seattle’s offense is about to catch a lot of teams slippin’ in 2025. “We want Geno to make plays, but we want to win the football game on defense,” Irvin said, explaining why Seattle moved on from Smith. Now, with Darnold leading the squad, they’re shifting to a more aggressive, balanced attack
‘I Called It!‘ Michael Irvin flexes on Seahawks’ Cooper Kupp signing
Michael Irvin is out here talking his talk like he just won another ring. The second news dropped that Cooper Kupp signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Seahawks, he was already on his ‘I told y’all‘ tour. “I guarantee you, I told you this before it went down, and I want you to look back over it because I promise you, I was probably the only one that had him going to Seattle.” Basically, he had the cheat codes before Seattle even hit ‘Start.’
But Irvin isn’t just chatting—he’s got the receipts. He made it clear that Kupp’s game is built different, and the stats prove it. The dude’s got elite timing, insane field vision, and a sixth sense for defenses. And yeah, the numbers don’t lie. Back in 2021, Kupp ate up the league, leading in receptions (145), yards (1,947), and touchdowns (16), winning the rare “triple crown” for receivers. Seattle just locked in a guy who knows the ball like no other—and Irvin is making sure everyone knows he saw it coming first.
Now, let’s talk about the Kupp-Sam Darnold link-up because Michael Irvin thinks it’s gonna hit different. “He’s going to be Sam Darnold’s comfort blanket,” he said, and honestly, he might be spitting facts. Kupp has that sixth sense for getting wide open, which made Matthew Stafford’s life a breeze in LA. Now, with a fresh offensive scheme under Kent Kubiak, Darnold might finally have the tools to not fumble the bag. If he can just play steady football, Kupp’s gonna make him look really good.
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