Stephen Cooper
Encyclopedia
Stephen Cooper is an American football
linebacker
for the San Diego Chargers
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football
for the University of Maine
.
in Wareham, Massachusetts
, where he lettered in football, basketball, and track. While being a standout linebacker, Cooper was more feared as the team's starting quarterback. Cooper led Wareham to an undefeated season and State Championship in 1995. In one game against Apponequet
, coach Dave Morgado said, "It takes two or three of my kids alone to stop Cooper." Following the 1997 season, Cooper earned the right to represent Massachusetts at the national High School Quarterback Challenge in Orlando. He largely won the event by throwing a 51-yard pass in snowy conditions. Cooper has 3 children 2 sons and a daughter.
to try and earn a scholarship. In an interview with Tom Shanahan, Cooper said his decision was a family one. “We weren’t really thinking about professional football," Cooper said, "We were thinking about a job after college, and if you go to the Naval Academy, you’re not going to get turned away for a job.” Because
his high school coach and Maine Head Coach Jack Cosgrove
played together in college, Cooper was offered a scholarship and became an instant star. Cooper earned Maine’s Roger Ellis Rookie of Year Award his freshman year in 1999. As a junior, Cooper earned Atlantic-10 Co-Defensive Player of Year. During his senior year, Cooper racked up Atlantic-10 Conference Defensive Player of Year in 2002, the George H. “Bulger” Lowe award from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston as the top defensive football player in New England, and was named a 1st Team Defense 2002 Associated Press NCAA Division I-AA Football All-American. He was also an American Football Coaches Association and Sports Network All-American as well.
In a game against Appalachian State, Cooper was named an I-AA All Star where he "turned the game around late in the third quarter, forcing ASU quarterback Joe Burchette into an interception with Maine trailing 10-0. The Black Bears scored two plays later and pulled out a 14-13 win. Cooper had 13 tackles, three solo and 10 assisted, three tackles for 15 yards of losses and two quarterback sacks for 14 yards of losses." Throughout his college career spanning four years from 1999–2002, Cooper finished with 374 tackles, 57 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 25 sacks.
The University of Maine star pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of steroids. Cooper was released following his plea to the misdemeanor offense, and issued a statement saying he had planned to use the drugs after the season to bulk up for a chance to play in the NFL.
said, "Stephen Cooper had as good a training camp as anybody we've got... He has all of the things you're looking for in a winning player. He's going to get plenty of time this season in some fashion or role." When speaking of his goals, Cooper told Shanahan, "My goals this year are for our team to get to the playoffs and compete for a Super Bowl. My individual goal is to make as many plays as I can when I get on the field."
In an interview with Jay Posner of the San Diego Union Tribune during the 2004 training camp, Schottenheimer said, "Stephen is arguably having the best camp of any linebacker we've got here. He's very bright, explosive and he can run." Despite not being the biggest linebacker, Cooper finds ways to make plays. In an interview with Posner, Cooper told Posner, "It really isn't about the size. I think it's all about instincts and how explosive you are. I think I'm smart enough and I have good enough explosion and enough punch to get guys off me and make plays." His former teammate, Donnie Edwards
told Posner, "He's feisty, has a nose for the football and he's tough. He's a good competitor, plays the game with a lot of passion."
On August 25, 2006, AJ Smith signed Cooper to a $15 million, five-year extension running through the 2011 season. Cooper told ESPN, "I wanted to be here and the organization wanted me to be here, so I'm just glad that it worked out the way it did... I know the defense, and now that I've been in [coordinator] Wade Phillips
' system for three years, I can go out and try to do my job to the best of my ability. I'm 27 years old, and would love to never move again." AJ Smith had this to say about Cooper, "Stephen is one of our young, fast-rising players...He's a hard worker, he's tough and he is physical."
The signing has established Cooper as first in line to replace Randall Godfrey
who is expected to retire. The Chargers ended contract negotiations with Godfrey once they drafted Anthony Waters
and Brandon Siler in the 2007 NFL Draft
. Cooper will start at the left inside linebacker position opposite Matt Wilhelm
and is expected to compete with Tim Dobbins
, Waters, and Siler to replace Godfrey's solid defense against the run and active role as the Chargers blitzing inside linebacker.
Cooper continued to prove himself in the 2007 season, registering 108 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions during the regular season. He saved his most impressive game to-date as a pro for the 2007 playoffs, registering 15 solo tackles in an upset win over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Divisional Round.
He was placed on injured reserve on October 11, 2011.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
.
Early years
Cooper attended Wareham High SchoolWareham High School
Wareham High School is a public high school located in Wareham, Massachusetts. The school is a part of the Wareham Public School system, and serves roughly 900 students in grades 9-12....
in Wareham, Massachusetts
Wareham, Massachusetts
Wareham is a town located in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 20,335, with an estimated 2008 population of 21,221....
, where he lettered in football, basketball, and track. While being a standout linebacker, Cooper was more feared as the team's starting quarterback. Cooper led Wareham to an undefeated season and State Championship in 1995. In one game against Apponequet
Apponequet Regional High School
Apponequet Regional High School opened September 21, 1959, and serves secondary academic education students from the towns of Freetown, Assonet, and Lakeville, Massachusetts.- History :...
, coach Dave Morgado said, "It takes two or three of my kids alone to stop Cooper." Following the 1997 season, Cooper earned the right to represent Massachusetts at the national High School Quarterback Challenge in Orlando. He largely won the event by throwing a 51-yard pass in snowy conditions. Cooper has 3 children 2 sons and a daughter.
College career
Cooper verbally committed to attend the U.S. Naval Academy but transferred closer to home at the University of MaineUniversity of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
to try and earn a scholarship. In an interview with Tom Shanahan, Cooper said his decision was a family one. “We weren’t really thinking about professional football," Cooper said, "We were thinking about a job after college, and if you go to the Naval Academy, you’re not going to get turned away for a job.” Because
his high school coach and Maine Head Coach Jack Cosgrove
Jack Cosgrove
Jack Cosgrove is head football coach at the University of Maine. Cosgrove is an alumnus of Maine and a former quarterback on the Black Bear's football team. Prior to receiving the head coach position, Cosgrove served as an assistant at Maine and Boston College, as well as a high school...
played together in college, Cooper was offered a scholarship and became an instant star. Cooper earned Maine’s Roger Ellis Rookie of Year Award his freshman year in 1999. As a junior, Cooper earned Atlantic-10 Co-Defensive Player of Year. During his senior year, Cooper racked up Atlantic-10 Conference Defensive Player of Year in 2002, the George H. “Bulger” Lowe award from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston as the top defensive football player in New England, and was named a 1st Team Defense 2002 Associated Press NCAA Division I-AA Football All-American. He was also an American Football Coaches Association and Sports Network All-American as well.
In a game against Appalachian State, Cooper was named an I-AA All Star where he "turned the game around late in the third quarter, forcing ASU quarterback Joe Burchette into an interception with Maine trailing 10-0. The Black Bears scored two plays later and pulled out a 14-13 win. Cooper had 13 tackles, three solo and 10 assisted, three tackles for 15 yards of losses and two quarterback sacks for 14 yards of losses." Throughout his college career spanning four years from 1999–2002, Cooper finished with 374 tackles, 57 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 25 sacks.
2002 steroid possession
A week after being named the top defensive player in New England, Cooper was caught with possession of about 1,000 steroid pills on November 1, 2002. He was riding in a car that was speeding on I-95 in Hampden, Maine. The driver, Patrick Kenney, allowed Trooper Michael Johnson to search the car in which he found the pills in a duffel bag sitting on the rear seat. Cooper was not penalized for participation of any games during his senior year as possession of steroids did not violate NCAA rules. A New York Times report stated "NCAA spokeswoman, Laronica L. Conway, said the illegal possession of steroids was an issue for the institution to resolve. There is no violation of NCAA. bylaws unless a player is accused of actually ingesting the pills, not simply possessing them, she said from the association's headquarters in Indianapolis."The University of Maine star pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of steroids. Cooper was released following his plea to the misdemeanor offense, and issued a statement saying he had planned to use the drugs after the season to bulk up for a chance to play in the NFL.
San Diego Chargers
Because of the steroid possession, Cooper's draft stock plummeted and he went undrafted. San Diego took a chance on him and signed Cooper as an undrafted free agent in 2003. Many expected Cooper to make the team including his former teammate Chad Hayes who told Tom Shanahan, "That didn't surprise anybody... He's the most dedicated guy I’ve played with. Everybody in Maine saw Coop's passion for the game. He always knew what teams were running and what audibles to look out for. He kept the quarterback running for his life." In an interview during the 2004 training camp with Shanahan, former head coach Marty SchottenheimerMarty Schottenheimer
Martin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
said, "Stephen Cooper had as good a training camp as anybody we've got... He has all of the things you're looking for in a winning player. He's going to get plenty of time this season in some fashion or role." When speaking of his goals, Cooper told Shanahan, "My goals this year are for our team to get to the playoffs and compete for a Super Bowl. My individual goal is to make as many plays as I can when I get on the field."
In an interview with Jay Posner of the San Diego Union Tribune during the 2004 training camp, Schottenheimer said, "Stephen is arguably having the best camp of any linebacker we've got here. He's very bright, explosive and he can run." Despite not being the biggest linebacker, Cooper finds ways to make plays. In an interview with Posner, Cooper told Posner, "It really isn't about the size. I think it's all about instincts and how explosive you are. I think I'm smart enough and I have good enough explosion and enough punch to get guys off me and make plays." His former teammate, Donnie Edwards
Donnie Edwards
Donnie Edwards is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
told Posner, "He's feisty, has a nose for the football and he's tough. He's a good competitor, plays the game with a lot of passion."
On August 25, 2006, AJ Smith signed Cooper to a $15 million, five-year extension running through the 2011 season. Cooper told ESPN, "I wanted to be here and the organization wanted me to be here, so I'm just glad that it worked out the way it did... I know the defense, and now that I've been in [coordinator] Wade Phillips
Wade Phillips
Wade Allen Phillips is the defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans and former head coach for the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills. He was also an interim head coach for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons...
' system for three years, I can go out and try to do my job to the best of my ability. I'm 27 years old, and would love to never move again." AJ Smith had this to say about Cooper, "Stephen is one of our young, fast-rising players...He's a hard worker, he's tough and he is physical."
The signing has established Cooper as first in line to replace Randall Godfrey
Randall Godfrey
Randall Euralentris Godfrey is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. Godfrey played college football at the University of Georgia, where he majored in housing and consumer economics. He also played High School Football at Lowndes High School in Valdosta Georgia...
who is expected to retire. The Chargers ended contract negotiations with Godfrey once they drafted Anthony Waters
Anthony Waters
Anthony D. Waters is an American football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson.-College career:Waters attended Clemson University for college...
and Brandon Siler in the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. Cooper will start at the left inside linebacker position opposite Matt Wilhelm
Matt Wilhelm
Matthew Wilhelm is an American football linebacker who's currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
and is expected to compete with Tim Dobbins
Tim Dobbins
Timothy L. Dobbins , an American football linebacker, signed with the Houston Texans of the National Football League in August 2011. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft as an inside linebacker for their 3/4 scheme...
, Waters, and Siler to replace Godfrey's solid defense against the run and active role as the Chargers blitzing inside linebacker.
Cooper continued to prove himself in the 2007 season, registering 108 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions during the regular season. He saved his most impressive game to-date as a pro for the 2007 playoffs, registering 15 solo tackles in an upset win over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Divisional Round.
He was placed on injured reserve on October 11, 2011.