Players

After opting to test the free agent market following the NFL Lockout in 2011, Cooper made the decision to return to the Chargers, signing a one-year deal in August.

Cooper is a two-time winner of the team’s Most Inspirational Player Award (2009-10). Cooper’s inspiration to lead extends well beyond the field. A few years ago, he opened the doors of his San Diego home to his nephew, Mark Williams, who had also grown up in Cooper’s hometown of Wareham, Mass. Williams was struggling in school, straying from athletics, and according to his mother, spending too much time with the wrong crowd. His mother sent him to San Diego to live with Cooper, who in turn enrolled Williams at Mt. Carmel High School. After a rocky start in San Diego, Williams settled into his new environment and improved his grades. He also made a significant impact on the football field helping lead the Sundevils to the playoffs in 2009.

A former undrafted rookie and one of just a handful of players to make it to the NFL from the University of Maine, Cooper was the first member of his family to graduate from college. He had enrolled at Maine as a quarterback, but later switched to defense and went on to become the Atlantic-10 Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year at his new and current position, linebacker. Cooper would like to become a teacher and a coach when his playing career comes to a close.

Cooper has two sons, Koby and Kye King, and a daughter, Karis. The middle of five children, he often returns to Wareham to spend time with his family. Cooper is still a local legend in his hometown for quarterbacking Wareham HS to a Super Bowl championship in 1995. In 2006, the school retired his former No. 4 jersey during the Chargers’ bye week and Cooper was able to attend the ceremony.

TRANSACTION HISTORY: Signed with Chargers, May 2, 2003…re-signed April 1, 2005 and March 23, 2006...signed five-year contract, Aug. 25, 2006...agreed to one-year contract, Aug. 12, 2011.

2010: Interception and forced fumble, both of which led to field goals in 36-14 win at Indianapolis Nov. 28.

2009: Chargers Most Inspirational Player....led team in tackles (119) and snaps played (940)...Game Ball for season-high 16-tackle effort Week 1 at Oakland...set up first touchdown of game with second quarter tackle, forced fumble and fumble recover vs. Darren McFadden just one play after tackling him for twoyard tackle for loss...early vs. Cleveland Dec. 6, broke up 3rd down pass with Browns leading 7-3 and driving to force 43- yard field goal attempt that went wide right...very next play, Chargers scored touchdown on 66-yard play for 10-7 lead they would not relinquish... another Game Ball Dec. 13 at Dallas for huge fourth-quarter tackle and forced fumble that led to three-and-out and game-clinching field goal on ensuing offensive possession...set up first touchdown for 7-0 lead in Wild Card playoffs vs. New York Jets by forcing three-and-out with four-yard tackle for loss on 3rd down.

2008: USA Today All-Joe...suspended Wks 1-4...season-high 16 tackles, including sack in Wk 6 NBC Sunday Night Football win over New England…Chargers Alumni Defensive Player of Month for November...intercepted career-high two passes, both in second quarter, during NFL Network Thursday Night game vs. Oakland Dec. 4…first Chargers linebacker since Donnie Edwards (12/12/04 vs. Tampa Bay) to intercept two passes in game …helped hold Oakland quarterbacks to season-low 27.6 passer rating…second-quarter interception in end zone Wk 14 at Kansas City to prevent potential score would loom large later as Chargers would overcome 21-3 deficit to rally and win 22-21 with two touchdowns in final 4:55 of fourth quarter…intercepted fourth pass in three games with fourth quarter pick at Tampa Bay Dec. 21…pick came with Bolts up 27-24…led team with 10 tackles in Jan. 3 Wild Card Playoffs vs. Indianapolis…game-high 13 tackles in Jan. 11 Divisional Playoffs at Pittsburgh.

2007: Career-high 19 tackles Wk 9 vs. Indianapolis on NBC’s Sunday Night Football…16 tackles and forced fumble at Oakland Dec. 30…led team with 12 tackles in Wild Card win over Tennessee Jan. 6…paced squad with 18 tackles in Jan. 13 Divisional Playoff win over Indianapolis…led team with nine tackles and shared sack in fourth quarter of Jan. 20 AFC Championship Game at New England.

2006: Wk 3 at Baltimore, tackle and forced fumble at one-yard line prevented
touchdown...led team in tackles Dec. 10 at Denver, adding sack and two passes defensed in open field…lone stop was fourth quarter tackle for loss in AFC Playoffs vs. Patriots.

2005: Made critical play that didn’t show up on stat sheets in 26-17 win at Indianapolis Dec. 18…with Bolts hanging on to 19-17 lead in fourth quarter, pressured Peyton Manning into intentional grounding penalty at Chargers’ 23…on following play, Manning was sacked, moving Colts out of field goal range and forcing punt…after punt, 83-yard touchdown run put game away for Bolts.

2004: Spelled injured Randall Godfrey vs. New York Jets Sept. 19 and led team with nine tackles including tackle for loss, earning Chargers Alumni Player of Week honors.

2003: First-career interception and 25-yard return Dec. 14 off Brett Favre...first-career sack at Pittsburgh Dec. 21.

COLLEGE: Atlantic-10 Defensive Player of Year in 2002…George H. “Bulger” Lowe award from Gridiron Club of Greater Boston as top defensive football player in New England…All-America as junior and senior…Atl-10 Defensive Player of Week after 3.5 sacks and five tackles for loss vs. Rhode Island…A-10 Co-Defensive Player of Year as junior…school’s Roger Ellis Rookie of Year in ’99…A-10 Rookie of Week after James Madison game…finished career with 374 tackles, 57 for loss, seven interceptions and 25 sacks…played at Maine
from 1999-02…mass communications graduate.

PERSONAL: Born in Wareham, Massachusetts…linebacker and quarterback at Wareham HS…Boston Globe and Boston Herald all-scholastic…school scoring record in basketball…lettered in track.