Jake Kupp
COLLEGE: Washington
POSITION: Guard
BORN: March 12, 1941 in Pasadena, California
JOINED SAINTS: 1967
YEARS WITH SAINTS: 1968–1975
Jake Kupp's Career Background
Former Saints guard Jake Kupp was enshrined in the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 1992 after a nine year career in the Black and Gold.
Born in Pasadena, Calif., where he spent his first five years, but raised in Sunnyside Washington after also spending five years of his youth in Nebraska, Kupp was selected by the Saints in the 1967 NFL Expansion Draft after starting his career for the Dallas Cowboys, who originally selected him in the ninth round (116th overall) of the 1964 NFL Draft and trying to convert to tight end with the Washington Commanders. Kupp split the 1967 campaign between the Saints and Atlanta Falcons, but returned to New Orleans in 1968, where he would play the remainder of his career. Kupp played 106 games with 102 starts over his nine years in New Orleans as a steady anchor in the offensive line. In 1969, Kupp was selected to the Pro-Bowl and was named a team captain. After retiring following the 1975 season, Kupp was selected for the Saints 25-year, 40-year and 50-year All-Time Teams.
After retiring from the National Football League, Kupp moved back to Washington State, where he currently resides. Although football may have been in Kupp's past, his career was far from over. After retiring from the game, he went on to work with Pacific Institution, based out of Seattle. He traveled the state giving motivational talks to high school students for a year and a half.
Kupp then transitioned to Trail Wagons. He was a sales manager before becoming a general manager for a food distribution company. The company sold food to schools, hospitals, restaurants and nursing homes in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska.
He ended his professional career as the president for Quest International, a marketing company in Yakima, Wash. He spent 14 years selling products to Fortune 100 companies before retiring in 2003.
Today Kupp and his wife reside in Yakima, Wash. He is heavily involved in a ministry, enjoys playing golf, and places spending time with his family above all.
Football was big with the Kupp family in Jake's future generations. His son, Craig, was a quarterback for the Cardinals and Cowboys, and his grandson, Cooper, currently plays wideout for the Los Angeles Rams. His other grandson, Ketner, had a stint with the Rams alongside his brother, and now serves as a linebackers coach at Pacific Lutheran University. Though Jake Kupp never had experienced a winning season with the Saints, Cooper was a part of the Super Bowl LVI Championship team and the game's MVP. The Kupp family is one of only five in NFL history to have three generations selected in the NFL Draft.
Jake Kupp's College Career
Prior to his pro football career, Kupp played football for the University of Washington where he played tackle, tight end and defensive end. He was apart of two Rose Bowl teams and also served as a pitcher on the baseball team.
Jake Kupp's Career Honors
Pro Bowl – 1969
PFWA All-Rookie Team – 1964
