Joe Cooper

Joe Cooper (born January 22, 1979) is an American former football linebacker. He played college football at Ohio State University, professionally with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was also a member of the New York Jets and St. Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL).

Early life Cooper attended Independence High School in Columbus, Ohio.

College career Cooper played for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1998 to 2001. He enrolled at Ohio State University in the fall of 1997 but was not eligible to play football that season. He earned All-Big Ten and Associated Press Third Team All-American honors in 2000 after recording 80 tackles. He was voted the most inspirational player of the Buckeyes by his teammates while also being named the team's most outstanding linebacker by his coaches in 2000.

Cooper played in three games, starting all three, for the Calgary Stampeders in 2002.

Cooper signed with the St. Louis Rams on January 7, 2003. He was released by the Rams on July 22, 2003.