Cooper Rush Bio
Cooper Robert Rush is an American professional football quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Central Michigan Chippewas and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Standing 6 ft 3 in and listed at 225 lb, Rush has carved out a long career as a reliable backup and spot starter known for his calm play and efficient decision-making.
Early Life and Background
Cooper Robert Rush was born on November 21, 1993, in Charlotte, Michigan, United States. He grew up in the small community of Charlotte before attending Lansing Catholic High School in Lansing, Michigan, a school with an enrollment of just over 500 students. There, he became a three-year starter at quarterback for the football team and also played basketball and baseball through his freshman year.
Rush quickly became the centerpiece of Lansing Catholic’s offense. In 2010 and 2011, he led the team to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons. During his junior season in 2011, Rush guided Lansing Catholic to the state runner-up title. In the Division 5 regional championship game against Dowagiac Union High School, he set Michigan state records with five touchdown passes in one quarter and eight for the game. Despite his heroics, the Cougars fell 56–26 in the finals against Powers Catholic High School.
As a senior, Rush earned All-State honors, was named the Associated Press Michigan Division 5/6 Player of the Year, and received ESPN’s Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year award. He finished his high school career with 7,248 passing yards on 455-of-734 passing (62 percent), 80 passing touchdowns, 1,438 rushing yards, and 27 rushing touchdowns. Rated a three-star recruit, he received scholarship offers from Central Michigan and Toledo, while Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, and Western Michigan offered him preferred walk-on spots.
Path to American Football
Rush enrolled at Central Michigan and redshirted his first year, earning the school’s Scout Team Player of the Year award. As a freshman, he began the season as the third-string quarterback but was elevated to starter by the third game after Cody Kater suffered a collarbone fracture. Coming on in relief against New Hampshire, Rush threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns, including a 97-yard scoring strike that tied the school record, and never relinquished the starting role.
During his sophomore season, Rush played in the 2014 Bahamas Bowl against Western Kentucky. Down 49–14 in the third quarter, he led a furious rally capped by a 45-yard Hail Mary pass that was lateraled through multiple teammates for a touchdown on the final play. Although the two-point conversion failed, his seven touchdown passes set an all-time record for any bowl game.
Rush’s junior season in 2015 was his statistical best, as he completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 3,848 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, setting a new Central Michigan single-season passing yardage record through 13 games. As a senior, he posted 3,540 passing yards and 23 touchdowns, highlighted by a controversial 30–27 win over Oklahoma State sealed by a 51-yard Hail Mary lateral play. He closed his college career with 49 consecutive starts, 12,894 passing yards, and 90 touchdowns, earning Second-team All-MAC honors in 2015 and Third-team All-MAC recognition in 2016.
Cooper Rush Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Coming out of Central Michigan, most draft analysts projected Cooper Rush as a seventh-round pick or priority undrafted free agent. He accepted an invitation to the East–West Shrine Game, where he completed 11 of 17 passes for 97 yards for the East, and later performed at the NFL Combine and Central Michigan’s pro day, where he posted a 30-inch vertical, an 8-foot-11 broad jump, and a 4.46 short shuttle. NFLDraftScout.com ranked him as the 14th-best quarterback prospect in the 2017 class.
Rush signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2017, after the draft. He won the third-string job during training camp and impressed in the preseason, finishing 38-of-51 for 398 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions. Behind Dak Prescott and Kellen Moore, Rush was a healthy scratch for the first five games before being promoted to second-string in Week 6. He made his NFL debut in Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers, completing 1-of-3 passes for 2 yards and rushing twice for 13 yards in a 40–10 win. Across 2018 and 2019, Rush saw limited action as Prescott’s backup, appearing in only a handful of games to close out victories.
Dallas Cowboys Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Rush re-signed with the Cowboys on a one-year restricted free agent tender in March 2020 but was waived on May 4 after the team signed Andy Dalton and drafted Ben DiNucci. He was claimed by the New York Giants the next day, reuniting with former head coach Jason Garrett, but was waived in early September and spent time on the practice squad before being released to make room for Clayton Thorson.
On October 31, 2020, Rush returned to the Dallas practice squad after Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Signed to a reserve/future contract in January 2021, he beat out Garrett Gilbert and DiNucci to be Prescott’s backup. Named starter in Week 8 against Minnesota due to a Prescott calf injury, Rush threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns in a 20–16 comeback win, his first NFL start. He signed a two-year, $6 million extension in March 2023 and appeared in seven games that season.
Baltimore Ravens Era (2025–Present)
On March 18, 2025, Cooper Rush signed a two-year, $6.2 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens that could be worth up to $12.2 million. After Lamar Jackson went down with a hamstring injury in Week 4, Rush was promoted to the starting role. In his Ravens debut against the Houston Texans in Week 5, he threw three interceptions without a touchdown in a 44–10 home loss. He was benched for Tyler Huntley the following week against the Los Angeles Rams after completing 11 of 19 passes for 72 yards and an interception in a 17–3 defeat, and was subsequently demoted to third-string duties upon Jackson’s return.
Rush was released by the Ravens on March 12, 2026, ending his Baltimore tenure. Over his career, he has completed 364 of 596 passes (61.1 percent) for 3,766 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, posting an 80.7 passer rating.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rush is regarded as a steady, low-mistake game manager who excels in rhythm-based passing attacks. He shows strong poise in two-minute situations, delivers accurate intermediate throws, and rarely turns the ball over when given time at the line of scrimmage. His ability to step into a starting role midseason and produce immediate wins has been his defining trait.
Notable Events and Milestones
Rush became the first quarterback in Cowboys history to win each of his first four NFL starts, a streak capped by a 22–10 road victory over the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. He also threw a career-high three touchdown passes in a Week 15 win over the Carolina Panthers in 2024 and set a Michigan high school state record with eight touchdowns in a single game during the 2011 playoffs.
Cooper Rush Career Wins
Cooper Rush has compiled a record defined by clutch late-game drives and efficient relief appearances, particularly during his two stints with the Dallas Cowboys. He has posted multiple wins as a starter and contributed to several blowout victories in relief, establishing himself as one of the more successful undrafted quarterbacks of his era.
NFL Highlights
Rush’s first NFL win came in relief against the San Francisco 49ers in 2017, and he has since added numerous fourth-quarter finishes and starts. His most recent victory came in Week 15 of the 2024 season, a 30–14 decision over the Carolina Panthers in which he threw three touchdown passes. His first start win, the 20–16 comeback against the Minnesota Vikings in 2021, and his 34–26 road win over the Washington Commanders in 2024 stand out as defining moments.
Other Wins and Performances
In college, Rush led Central Michigan to the 2014 Bahamas Bowl rally and the dramatic 30–27 win over Oklahoma State as a senior. At Lansing Catholic High School, he guided the team to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons and a state runner-up finish in 2011, setting state records along the way.
Cooper Rush Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cooper Robert Rush was raised in Charlotte, Michigan, where his family ties remain rooted in the small central Michigan community. Public information about his parents and siblings is limited, and details beyond his hometown upbringing are not widely documented.
Personal Life
Rush is married and has a daughter. He tends to keep his family life private, focusing public attention on his football career.
2025 Season Performance
Cooper Rush entered the 2025 season as the backup quarterback behind Lamar Jackson after signing a two-year, $6.2 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens. His opportunity arrived in Week 4 when Jackson went down with a hamstring injury, thrusting Rush into the starting role.
His two starts produced mixed results, as he threw three interceptions without a touchdown against Houston and was later replaced by Tyler Huntley following a 72-yard, one-interception performance against the Los Angeles Rams. Once Jackson returned, Rush slid back into a depth-chart role with the Ravens.
Looking ahead, Rush’s 2025 season will be remembered as a brief but instructive stretch that highlighted both his preparation and the steep challenge of filling in for an MVP-caliber starter. His release by the Ravens in March 2026 opens the next chapter of his career as he seeks a new opportunity to serve as a reliable veteran backup.
