The Panthers on Friday signed wide receiver Pharoh Cooper, who spent last season with the Cardinals. In Arizona, Cooper recorded career highs in receiving, hauling in 25 receptions for 243 yards and one touchdown.
Before Cooper gets started with the Panthers, get to know the team's newest wide receiver and returner:
A Carolina boy
For Cooper, signing with the Panthers means coming home.
Cooper grew up in Eastern North Carolina and attended Havelock High School, before eventually heading across the border to play his college ball at South Carolina. Now Cooper gets to fully embrace the Panthers' motto of "Two States, One Team," and represent both of his football homes.
Taking it all the way
Cooper may be listed as a wide receiver, but he's proven himself to be most dangerous when he's returning kicks. During the 2017 season with the Rams, Cooper earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in just his second year in the league. That's what happens when you take a kickoff 103 yards to the house and lead the league in combined kickoff and punt return yardage.
Since then, Cooper has been electric to watch on return plays, and last year provided sure hands for the Cardinals' return units.
The story behind the name
Pharoh isn't exactly a common name, but it's definitely a cool one. Yet the story behind Cooper's first name is fairly simple.
After Cooper's mother named her first child, it was his father's turn when the second came around. So dad settled on Pharoh. Why? Because it's a powerful name.
Since then, Cooper has fully embraced the title, donning a tattoo of the Egyptian ruler King Tut on his right calf and sporting a golden King Tut chain. Plus, his Twitter handle combines his Egyptian-inspired name with his passion for football: @KingTutt_chdown.
Pharoh Cooper previously played for Rams (2016-18), Bengals (2018) and Cardinals (2018-19).
South Carolina receiver Pharoh Cooper runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
South Carolina receiver Pharoh Cooper runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Wide receiver Pharaoh Cooper #10 during the Los Angeles Rams OTA on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 in Oxnard, Calif. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Los Angeles Rams receiver Pharoh Cooper looks on from the sidelines during a NFL preseason football game against the Denver Broncos on Saturday, Aug. 27th, 2016 in Denver. The Broncos won the game, 17-9. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (10) leaves the field during an NFL preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, August 13, 2016, in Los Angeles, Ca. The Rams won the game, 28-24. (Greg Trott via AP)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Pharoh Cooper runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Los Angeles Rams kick returner Pharoh Cooper (10) tries to get past Tennessee Titans defenders including Taywan Taylor (13) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Pharoh Cooper warms up wearing gear in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Pharoh Cooper (izquierda) de los Rams de Los Angeles corre para anotar un touchdown, dejando atrás a Peyton Thompson de los Jaguars de Jacksonville, el domingo 15 de octubre de 2017. (AP Foto/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (10) runs the football during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Los Angeles. The Rams defeated the Saints, 26-20. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (10) runs against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Pharoh Cooper warms up before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Arizona Cardinals wide receivers Pharoh Cooper (12) shares a laugh with Chad Williams (10) after stretching out with teammates prior to running drills at the team's NFL football training facility, Wednesday, June 12, 2019, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (12) warms up prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (12) runs during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Chargers 17-13 (Greg Trott via AP)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (12) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (12) runs the football from Oakland Raiders cornerback Nevin Lawson (26) during an NFL preseason football game on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Raiders defeated the Cardinals, 33-26. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (12) runs onto the field during player introductions prior to an NFL regular season football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019 in Glendale, Ariz. The Rams won, 34-7. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (12) catches a late fourth quarter pass for a gain of 24 yards and a first down at the Cardinals 46 yard line as Los Angeles Rams free safety Eric Weddle (32) closes in for a tackle during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 in Los Angeles. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 31-24. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (12) makes a catch during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 06, 2019, in Cincinnati. The Cardinals won 26-23. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (12) runs a route during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Seattle. The Cardinals defeated the Seahawks, 27-13. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Arizona Cardinals punt returner Pharaoh Cooper (12) dives to score a touchdown during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Seattle. (Gene Lower via AP)
