Cooper Kupp's Super Bowl-Winning TD Was Play Designed for Odell Beckham, Says Rams OC

If he had been healthy, Odell Beckham Jr. might have been the one catching the game-winning reception in the Los Angeles Rams' Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Kupp hauled in a one-yard touchdown grab to put Los Angeles on top 23-20 following Matt Gay's extra point with 1:25 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell, who will be the Minnesota Vikings head coach next season, acknowledged the play was originally designed for Beckham, who had exited the game after a non-contact left knee injury in the second quarter.

Beckham, who will be a free agent this offseason, was later revealed to have likely torn his ACL on the play, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. He recorded two receptions for 52 yards with a touchdown prior to the injury and proved to be a reliable No. 2 option for QB Matthew Stafford ever since the Rams signed him following his release from the Cleveland Browns on November 8.

"We said to ourselves, 'We're gonna put Cooper out there,'" O'Connell said, per The MMQB's Albert Breer. "It really would've been Odell in that spot, but we said, 'You know what? We're gonna move Cooper out there, let him go one-on-one to go win a Super Bowl.' And I didn't expect anything else from those guys."

Beckham's absence forced the Rams to lean heavily on Kupp, especially on their pivotal touchdown drive. He finished with eight receptions, 92 yards and two touchdowns, which ultimately earned him Super Bowl MVP honors.

It was the crowning achievement for one of the best individual seasons by a wide receiver in NFL history.