Former Los Angeles Rams All-Pro WR Shocks Everybody By Announcing His Retirement At Age 29

Los Angeles Rams helmet (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

A former Los Angeles Rams star has announced his retirement at just 29 years of age.

On X/Twitter, former Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Pharoh Cooper announced that he is retiring after seven seasons in the NFL. Cooper went unsigned in 2023 after spending the 2022 season with the Arizona Cardinals:

“Farewell football, I’m officially retiring from the NFL. I’m forever grateful and give all the glory to God that I was able to live out my childhood dream. I appreciate all the love and support I’ve received from my family, friends, and fans through out my career. Much love.”

The former South Carolina Gamecocks star was selected in the fourth round (117th overall) by the Rams back in 2016. Cooper was one of the three successful picks by LA that year, the other two being quarterback Jared Goff (first overall) and tight end Tyler Higbee (110th overall).

Cooper earned First-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in his 2017 sophomore season after helping the Los Angeles Rams to a surprise NFC West division crown that marked the franchise’s first playoff appearance in 13 years.

That year, Cooper had 399 punt return yards and 932 kick return yards, including one KR touchdown. Cooper led the league with 27.4 yards per kick return, plus he had 84 receiving yards

Cooper spent three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, helping them to a Super Bowl 53 appearance in the 2018 season. However, they lost to Tom Brady’s New England Patriots by a final score of 13-3 in that game.

Aside from the Rams and Cardinals, Cooper also played for the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals. He finishes his career with 936 punt return yards, 3,018 kick return yards, 61 receptions, 545 receiving yards and one receiving score.

Cooper Was An Underrated Part Of The Los Angeles Rams’ Surgence

The Rams weren’t going anywhere with Jeff Fisher as their head coach, but the hiring of Sean McVay changed everything.

While much of the credit went to Goff, Cooper Kupp, Todd Gurley, Aaron Donald, Robert Woods et al, Pharoh Cooper’s explosive skill set and ability to constantly give his team quality field position made him an undervalued piece of the Rams. He certainly did his part in helping the team rise to NFC heavyweight status.