Amari Cooper Bio
Amari Cooper is an American former professional football wide receiver who played 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, winning the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver and earning unanimous All-American honors in 2014. Cooper was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2015 NFL draft. Over his career, he established himself as one of the most consistent pass-catchers in the league, recording over 10,000 receiving yards and earning five Pro Bowl selections.
Early Life and Background
Amari Cooper was born on June 17, 1994, in Miami, Florida. He attended Miami Northwestern Senior High School, where he quickly emerged as a dominant wide receiver despite missing much of his junior season due to injury. As a senior, Cooper recorded 33 receptions for 722 yards and six touchdowns, earning first-team FHSAA 8A All-State honors. He was ranked as the number-four player on Orlando Sentinel’s Florida Top 100 and was invited to play at the 2012 Under Armour All-America Game, where he recorded a 75-yard touchdown reception and a 93-yard punt return for a score.
Cooper was a highly decorated high school prospect, rated as a consensus four-star recruit. He chose Alabama over schools such as Florida State, Miami, and Ohio State, announcing his verbal commitment on September 22, 2011. Beyond football, Cooper excelled in basketball and track at Miami Northwestern, showcasing his athletic versatility.
College Career at Alabama
As a freshman at Alabama in 2012, Cooper played in all 14 games and led the team with 59 receptions for 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 11 touchdowns broke Alabama’s 62-year-old record previously held by Al Lary, and his receptions and receiving yards broke Julio Jones’s Alabama freshman records. He contributed significantly to Alabama’s BCS National Championship victory over Notre Dame, recording six receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
Cooper continued his stellar play as a sophomore in 2013, catching 45 passes for 736 yards and four touchdowns despite missing two games due to injury. His highlight came against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, where he recorded six receptions for 178 yards, including a school record 99-yard touchdown reception from quarterback A.J. McCarron.
As a junior in 2014, Cooper had a historic season, setting numerous single-season and career records for Alabama. He finished with 124 receptions for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns, both school records. His 124 receptions were an SEC record and led the NCAA. He became Alabama’s all-time leader in receptions (228), receiving yards (3,463), and receiving touchdowns (31). Cooper finished third in Heisman Trophy voting and won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver.
Amari Cooper Career
Oakland Raiders (2015–2018)
Cooper was drafted fourth overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2015 NFL Draft. He made his NFL debut on September 13, 2015, and quickly made an impact. In just his third career game, he set a franchise rookie record with eight receptions for 134 yards against the Cleveland Browns, becoming the first Raiders receiver with consecutive 100+ yard games since Randy Moss in 2005. On December 20, 2015, Cooper became the first rookie in franchise history to reach the 1,000-yard mark. He finished his rookie season with 72 receptions for 1,070 yards and was selected to his first Pro Bowl.
In his second season (2016), Cooper built on his rookie success with 83 receptions for 1,153 yards and five touchdowns. He earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection and was ranked 53rd in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017. However, the 2017 season proved challenging as Cooper struggled with an ankle injury, finishing with career lows of 48 receptions for 680 yards, though he did set a then-career-high with 210 receiving yards in a Week 7 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Dallas Cowboys (2018–2021)
On October 22, 2018, Cooper was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a first-round pick. He made an immediate impact, recording his first 200+ yard game as a Cowboy against the Philadelphia Eagles with a career-high 217 receiving yards and three touchdowns in overtime. That performance earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Cooper helped the Cowboys win the NFC East with a 10-6 record and contributed in the playoffs. He finished the 2018 season with 75 receptions for 1,005 yards and seven touchdowns combined between the Raiders and Cowboys.
Cooper reached 1,000 receiving yards in both 2019 and 2020 seasons. In 2019, he recorded 79 receptions for a career-high 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns, earning his fourth Pro Bowl selection. On March 17, 2020, Cooper signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension with the Cowboys. The 2020 season saw him finish with a career-high 92 receptions for 1,114 yards and five touchdowns despite playing with four different quarterbacks due to injuries. In 2021, Cooper recorded 68 receptions for 865 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns (tied for team lead) in 15 games.
Cleveland Browns (2022–2024)
On March 16, 2022, Cooper was traded to the Cleveland Browns. He quickly became the team’s top receiving option, finishing the 2022 season with 78 receptions for 1,160 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns. He continued his production in 2023, recording 72 receptions for a career-high 1,250 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games. On December 24, 2023, Cooper set the Browns single-game receiving record with 265 yards against the Houston Texans, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. He became the first wide receiver in Browns history to record consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and was selected to his fifth Pro Bowl.
During the 2024 season with Cleveland, Cooper struggled to find consistency, recording 24 receptions for 250 yards and two touchdowns in six games before being traded mid-season.
Buffalo Bills (2024)
On October 15, 2024, the Browns traded Cooper to the Buffalo Bills. He made his Bills debut in Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans, catching four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. Cooper missed Weeks 9 and 10 with a wrist injury but returned to contribute to the Bills’ season. A memorable moment came in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers when he caught a pass from quarterback Josh Allen and lateraled the ball back to Allen for a touchdown, giving Allen both a passing and receiving touchdown on the same play. He finished the 2024 season with 44 receptions for 547 yards and four touchdowns.
Las Vegas Raiders (2025)
On August 25, 2025, Cooper signed a one-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, reuniting with the team that originally drafted him in 2015. On September 4, 2025, Cooper announced his retirement from the NFL after 10 distinguished seasons.
Amari Cooper Career Statistics
Over his 10 NFL seasons, Cooper established himself as one of the most productive wide receivers of his generation. He recorded 711 career receptions for 10,033 receiving yards and 64 touchdowns. His consistency was evident through his five Pro Bowl selections and his ability to reach 1,000-yard seasons with four different franchises. Cooper was the first wide receiver to record consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with the Cleveland Browns and became just the second player in NFL history (alongside Terrell Owens) to record 200+ receiving yards in a game for three different teams.
NFL Career Statistics
Cooper amassed 711 receptions for 10,033 yards and 64 touchdowns across 144 games played. His career average of 14.1 yards per reception demonstrated his deep-threat ability, while his consistent production across multiple teams showcased his versatility and football intelligence.
College Statistics
At Alabama, Cooper finished as the program’s all-time leader with 228 receptions, 3,463 receiving yards, and 31 receiving touchdowns. His 124 receptions in 2014 remain an SEC single-season record. He was a three-time All-American and won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver in 2014.
Amari Cooper Family
Personal Life
Cooper is an avid chess player, having been first captivated by the game as an elementary school student in northwest Miami. He has spoken about how chess strategies relate to his play on the football field. Cooper participated in Chess.com’s BlitzChamps, a rapid tournament for NFL players, and finished second behind fellow NFL player Chidobe Awuzie.
2025 Season Performance
Cooper’s 2025 season marked the final chapter of his distinguished 10-year NFL career. After joining the Las Vegas Raiders for a reunion with the franchise that drafted him, he announced his retirement on September 4, 2025. His career spanned four teams, with his final season serving as a fitting tribute to a player who consistently performed at an elite level. Cooper’s retirement concluded a career highlighted by over 10,000 receiving yards, 64 touchdowns, five Pro Bowl selections, and the distinction of being one of the most consistent pass-catchers in the NFL over the past decade.