| No. 7, 9, 12, 10 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | (1967-04-14)April 14, 1967 (age 57) Sunnyside, Washington, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Selah (WA) |
| College: | Pacific Lutheran |
| NFL draft: | 1990: 5th round, 135th pick |
| Career history | |
| |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats atPro Football Reference | |
Craig Marion Kupp (born April 14, 1967) is an American former professionalfootballquarterback in theNational Football League (NFL) for thePhoenix Cardinals andDallas Cowboys. He playedcollege football atPacific Lutheran University.
Kupp attendedSelah High School, where he competed in football, basketball and tennis.[1] He didn't have a notable high school football career, so he wasn't highly recruited.
He accepted a football scholarship fromMontana Technological University, where he received All-Frontier Conference honors as a quarterback and punter. He transferred toPacific Lutheran University after his freshman season, to complete his studies closer to his home.[2] As a sophomore in 1987, he was a backup behind Jeff Yarnell and was a part of the NAIA Division II national championship team.
As a junior in 1988, he became a starter at quarterback. His team eventually lost 35–56 in an NAIA Division II playoff game, after theOregon Institute of Technology accomplished the biggest comeback in school history, by scoring 49 points in the second half. Kupp led his team to a 35–7 advantage at halftime, tallying a career-high 272 passing yards, 16-of-21 completions, 2 passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, before fracturing his left ankle with just two minutes left in the first half.[3]
As a senior in 1989, he made 185-of-286 pass completions (64.7%) for 2,398 yards (school record), 25 touchdowns (third in school history) and 3 interceptions, setting the record for passing yards in a season and an NAIA Division II record for interception rate with a 1.04% mark. AgainstSouthern Oregon University, he set school records for passing yards (411) and touchdown throws (6) in a single-game, while leading his team to a 52–50 win. He received All-Columbia Football Association honors at the end of the season.
He finished his college career with 300-of-499 completions for 3,921 yards (fourth in school history), 41 touchdowns (fourth in school history) and 11 interceptions. In 2003, he was inducted into the Pacific Lutheran Athletic Hall of Fame.[4]
Kupp was selected by theNew York Giants in the 5th round (135th overall) of the1990 NFL draft.[5] He was the ninth quarterback taken.[6] He was released before the start of the season on September 3, after not being able to passMatt Cavanaugh on the depth chart.[7]
In September 1990, Kupp signed withPhoenix Cardinals and spent the rest of the year on thepractice squad. In 1991, a training camp knee injury to starting quarterbackTimm Rosenbach, allowed Kupp to gain additional playing experience. In his only professional football game, Kupp completed 3-of-7 attempts for 23 yards in the fourth quarter of the Cardinals' 34–0 loss to theWashington Redskins in week 3. On November 6, 1991, he was released to make room for quarterbackChris Chandler.[8]
On November 7, 1991, Kupp was claimed off waivers by theDallas Cowboys.[9] After starterTroy Aikman suffered a knee injury in the twelfth game against theWashington Redskins, Kupp ascended from third-string to backup quarterback behindSteve Beuerlein.[10]
In 1992, Kupp was one of three Cowboys players to be allocated to theWorld League of American Football. He spent the first six weeks of the season with theSan Antonio Riders, having scant action, before being acquired by theMontreal Machine, where he spent the remainder of the season as a backup.[11] He made 11-of-27 completions for 138 yards, one touchdown and 4 interceptions. He was released by the Cowboys on August 31.[12]
Kupp's father,Jake, was aguard in the NFL for theNew Orleans Saints and theDallas Cowboys.[13] His son,Cooper, is a wide receiver for theSeattle Seahawks and his other son Ketner was formerly a linebacker for theLos Angeles Rams. Cooper won theWalter Payton Award in 2015 and owns nearly every major career FCS receiving record.