Cooper Helfet

Tight end for Seattle Seahawks

What is Cooper Helfet known for?

Born on June 2, 1989, in Kentfield, California, Cooper Winston Helfet is a former American football tight end who is notable for his impressive career in professional football. Helfet's passion for sports started in his early years at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California, where he excelled in football, basketball, and lacrosse. His senior year was especially noteworthy as he recorded 42 receptions for 811 yards and received first-team all-conference honors.

Despite a lacrosse scholarship and a short stint at Johns Hopkins University, Helfet was determined to pursue a career in football. After transferring to Santa Rosa Junior College, Helfet continued to demonstrate his athletic prowess and eventually transferred to Duke University, a rare move for a junior college player.

At Duke, Helfet's skill on the football field did not go unnoticed. In his junior year, he was recognized as an honorable mention All-ACC and was included in the 33-member watch list for the John Mackey Award in his senior season. He was also selected to the pre-season All-ACC by both Lindy's Sports second-team and Athlon Sports third-team, further solidifying his football credentials.

Helfet started his professional career in 2012, when he signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. His time with the Seahawks was marked by periods of release and re-signing, but the highlights of his tenure with the team undoubtedly include winning the Super Bowl XLVIII. He recorded total NFL statistics of 25 receptions, 315 receiving yards, and 2 receiving touchdowns during his time in the Seahawks.

His career moved forward in 2016 when he joined the Oakland Raiders' practice squad. Despite signing a reserve/future contract with the Raiders in early 2017, by September of the same year, Helfet was released from the team.

For more detail about Helfet's statistics, you can visit the NFL's official website.

With a career marked by numerous highlights and challenges, Cooper Helfet remains a notable alumnus for Redwood High School, and an inspiration for aspiring athletes, demonstrating the power of perseverance in the challenging world of professional sports.