Seahawks Issue Ultimatum to Super Bowl Champion MVP WR: “Restructure or Leave” After Turbulent 2025 Season

Seattle, Washington – December 3, 2025

The Seattle Seahawks have entered one of the most defining phases of their roster reset, and at the center of it all is Cooper Kupp — the 2021 Super Bowl champion, former Offensive Player of the Year, and the owner of a contract worth more than $100 million. After a turbulent, injury-riddled, and inconsistent 2025 season, the Seahawks have delivered a message that leaves no room for interpretation: restructure now, or be moved this offseason.

According to ESPN Seattle, immediately after the Week 13 matchup, the Seahawks’ front office held a closed-door meeting with Kupp’s representatives. In that meeting, they presented a brutally honest evaluation: declining speed, reduced separation, and the inability to consistently anchor the WR1 role in Mike Macdonald’s offense. More importantly, the franchise emphasized that a cap hit exceeding $100 million over the next two years no longer reflects his on-field production.

Throughout 2025, Kupp battled recurring injuries, was limited in multiple games, and in several weeks served primarily as a decoy. With Seattle prioritizing youth, cap flexibility, and long-term defensive spending, keeping a massive contract tied to a player past his physical peak is no longer viable.

General manager John Schneider — typically reserved in his public comments — delivered one of the most pointed messages of his tenure, a statement that immediately sent chills through the press room:

“At Seattle, we don’t keep anybody just because of what they did in the past. We need guys who can fight for this team today and make it better tomorrow. And if anybody thinks a reputation or a Super Bowl ring guarantees their future here… this is the moment they find out the truth.”

The ultimatum is now clear:
Either Kupp agrees to a significant restructure to lower his cap hit, or the Seahawks will place him on the trade market the moment the offseason begins.

Even so, team insiders stress that Seattle is not eager to part ways with Cooper Kupp. He remains one of the most respected leaders in the locker room, a mentor for the team’s young receivers, and a proven playmaker when fully healthy. But with more than $100 million tied to a contract that no longer fits the roster’s direction, the front office is being forced into difficult decisions.

Multiple franchises — including the Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders, and Detroit Lions — are reportedly monitoring the situation closely and preparing to make offers should Seattle make Kupp available.

The Seahawks have spoken.
And now, the future of Cooper Kupp — along with his $100-million-plus contract — lies entirely in his hands.