Stephen Cooper ( American football ) Stephen Cooper ( born June 19 , 1979 ) was an American football linebacker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2003 . He played college football for the University of Maine . He is currently a free agent . Early years . Cooper attended Wareham High School in Wareham , Massachusetts , where he lettered in football , basketball , and track . While being a standout linebacker , Cooper was more feared as the team ' s starting quarterback . Cooper led Wareham to an undefeated season and State Championship in 1995 . In one game against Apponequet , coach Dave Morgado said , " It takes two or three of my kids alone to stop Cooper . " Following the 1997 season , Cooper earned the right to represent Massachusetts at the national High School Quarterback Challenge in Orlando . He largely won the event by throwing a 51 - yard pass in snowy conditions . Cooper has 3 children 2 sons and a daughter . College career . Cooper verbally committed to attend the U . S . Naval Academy but transferred closer to home at the University of Maine to try and earn a scholarship . In an interview with Tom Shanahan , Cooper said his decision was a family one . “ We weren ’ t really thinking about professional football , " Cooper said , " We were thinking about a job after college , and if you go to the Naval Academy , you ’ re not going to get turned away for a job . ” Because his high school coach and Maine Head Coach Jack Cosgrove played together in college , Cooper was offered a scholarship and became an instant star . Cooper earned Maine ’ s Roger Ellis Rookie of Year Award his freshman year in 1999 . As a junior , Cooper earned Atlantic - 10 Co - Defensive Player of Year . During his senior year , Cooper racked up Atlantic - 10 Conference Defensive Player of Year in 2002 , the George H . “ Bulger ” Lowe award from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston as the top defensive football player in New England , and was named a 1st Team Defense 2002 Associated Press NCAA Division I - AA Football All - American . He was also an American Football Coaches Association and Sports Network All - American as well . In a game against Appalachian State , Cooper was named an I - AA All Star where he " turned the game around late in the third quarter , forcing ASU quarterback Joe Burchette into an interception with Maine trailing 10 - 0 . The Black Bears scored two plays later and pulled out a 14 - 13 win . Cooper had 13 tackles , three solo and 10 assisted , three tackles for 15 yards of losses and two quarterback sacks for 14 yards of losses . " Throughout his college career spanning four years from 1999 – 2002 , Cooper finished with 374 tackles , 57 tackles for loss , seven interceptions and 25 sacks . 2002 steroid possession . A week after being named the top defensive player in New England , Cooper was caught with possession of about 1 , 000 steroid pills on November 1 , 2002 . He was riding in a car that was speeding on I - 95 in Hampden , Maine . The driver , Patrick Kenney , allowed Trooper Michael Johnson to search the car in which he found the pills in a duffel bag sitting on the rear seat . Cooper was not penalized for participation of any games during his senior year as possession of steroids did not violate NCAA rules . A New York Times report stated " NCAA spokeswoman , Laronica L . Conway , said the illegal possession of steroids was an issue for the institution to resolve . There is no violation of NCAA . bylaws unless a player is accused of actually ingesting the pills , not simply possessing them , she said from the association ' s headquarters in Indianapolis . " The University of Maine star pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of steroids . Cooper was released following his plea to the misdemeanor offense , and issued a statement saying he had planned to use the drugs after the season to bulk up for a chance to play in the NFL . Professional career . San Diego Chargers . Because of the steroid possession , Cooper ' s draft stock plummeted and he went undrafted . San Diego took a chance on him and signed Cooper as an undrafted free agent in 2003 . Many expected Cooper to make the team including his former teammate Chad Hayes who told Tom Shanahan , " That didn ' t surprise anybody . . . He ' s the most dedicated guy I ’ ve played with . Everybody in Maine saw Coop ' s passion for the game . He always knew what teams were running and what audibles to look out for . He kept the quarterback running for his life . " In an interview during the 2004 training camp with Shanahan , former head coach Marty Schottenheimer said , " Stephen Cooper had as good a training camp as anybody we ' ve got . . . He has all of the things you ' re looking for in a winning player . He ' s going to get plenty of time this season in some fashion or role . " When speaking of his goals , Cooper told Shanahan , " My goals this year are for our team to get to the playoffs and compete for a Super Bowl . My individual goal is to make as many plays as I can when I get on the field . " In an interview with Jay Posner of the San Diego Union Tribune during the 2004 training camp , Schottenheimer said , " Stephen is arguably having the best camp of any linebacker we ' ve got here . He ' s very bright , explosive and he can run . " Despite not being the biggest linebacker , Cooper finds ways to make plays . In an interview with Posner , Cooper told Posner , " It really isn ' t about the size . I think it ' s all about instincts and how explosive you are . I think I ' m smart enough and I have good enough explosion and enough punch to get guys off me and make plays . " His former teammate , Donnie Edwards told Posner , " He ' s feisty , has a nose for the football and he ' s tough . He ' s a good competitor , plays the game with a lot of passion . " On August 25 , 2006 , AJ Smith signed Cooper to a $ 15 million , five - year extension running through the 2011 season . Cooper told ESPN , " I wanted to be here and the organization wanted me to be here , so I ' m just glad that it worked out the way it did . . . I know the defense , and now that I ' ve been in [ coordinator ] Wade Phillips ' system for three years , I can go out and try to do my job to the best of my ability . I ' m 27 years old , and would love to never move again . " AJ Smith had this to say about Cooper , " Stephen is one of our young , fast - rising players . . . He ' s a hard worker , he ' s tough and he is physical . " The signing has established Cooper as first in line to replace Randall Godfrey who is expected to retire . The Chargers ended contract negotiations with Godfrey once they drafted Anthony Waters and Brandon Siler in the 2007 NFL Draft . Cooper will start at the left inside linebacker position opposite Matt Wilhelm and is expected to compete with Tim Dobbins , Waters , and Siler to replace Godfrey ' s solid defense against the run and active role as the Chargers blitzing inside linebacker . Cooper continued to prove himself in the 2007 season , registering 108 tackles , 2 sacks , 2 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions during the regular season . He saved his most impressive game to - date as a pro for the 2007 playoffs , registering 15 solo tackles in an upset win over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Divisional Round . He was placed on injured reserve on October 11 , 2011 and subsequently released .