The Ravens recently signed former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush to a two-year deal worth $6.2 million to back up Lamar Jackson.
Rush, 31, filled in for Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott due to injury in 2024. He played in 12 games, throwing for 1,844 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound quarterback had been with Dallas since 2017.
“It kind of came out of nowhere a little bit, but I think it’s a perfect fit,” Rush said on Glenn Clark Radio on March 25 about why he signed with Baltimore. “I talked to coach [John] Harbaugh and coach [Todd] Monken. We met over the week and felt really good and fulfilled a need for the team. You see from afar the success they have and the stability. All things you hear, it’s a good organization, so I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Rush was excited when his agent told him the Ravens were interested. He is looking forward to playing for the Ravens because of the consistency they’ve established. The Ravens have made the playoffs each of the past three seasons and have only missed the postseason once in the past seven years.
“You’re always excited when it’s a good team,” Rush said. “Definitely a well-run organization. They’ve got players at every position. It’s fun to be a part of teams like that. It was exciting. Getting a taste of the AFC North, which you hear so much about, will be awesome.”
Playing behind Jackson was one of the reasons why Rush was eager to go to Baltimore because Rush admires Jackson’s talent. Jackson has 6,173 career rushing yards, the most by a quarterback in NFL history.
“I wish I could run like that,” Rush said. “I’m really excited to see it up close, all the things he can do that he’s shown over the years. Especially last year, you watch the tape and there were a lot less quarterback runs designed than you think. Lamar does his thing when he has to.”
Rush is also grateful to have signed with the Ravens because it proves he can still play in the league after signing with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan back in 2017.
“It’s crazy to look back. You think that first year, you’re undrafted and you’re just trying to make the team or the practice squad at least … and it turned into pretty much eight years, which is insane to think about,” Rush said. “I’m real fortunate to be in one spot that long. I just think physically you can get better. I think people forget that in the NFL sometimes. Your ceiling isn’t what you are coming out of college.”
Rush believes being part of a solid locker room led to his success in Dallas despite some believing the Cowboys are no longer a great organization. He hopes it translates to Baltimore.
“We had a really good locker room. You hear about a lot of outside noise but really inside the building, it’s nothing too crazy,” Rush said. “At the end of the day, you choose how to let things affect you. In my mind, in a lot of guys’ minds, this is the Dallas Cowboys, this is awesome. … If you accept that in a positive light, I think it really helps the guys.”
Despite spending the past couple of seasons in Dallas, Rush’s family is also pumped for their move to Baltimore and to see him play on another team.
“My 4-year-old is all in and all about it,” Rush said. “She’s involved and talking about moving. The other night, [she] made sure to have the mascot — the little stuffed animal Poe — in her bed. She’s getting into it. I think that’s something exciting for her. My wife and the girls are definitely enjoying the colors.”
For more from Rush, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Dallas Cowboys