_(cropped).jpg) Cooper with theDenver Broncos in 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| No. 0 – Denver Broncos | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker | ||||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1998-01-08)January 8, 1998 (age 28) Gahanna, Ohio, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 257 lb (117 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school | Lincoln (Gahanna) | ||||||||||||||||
| College | Ohio State (2016–2020) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2021: 7th round, 239th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
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Jonathon Cooper (born January 8, 1998) is an American professionalfootballlinebacker for theDenver Broncos of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theOhio State Buckeyes.
Cooper was born on January 8, 1998, inGahanna, Ohio. His mother, Jessica Moorman, who was 17 years old at the time, was a high school student with college aspirations who worked a part-time job at an accounting firm. Initially, Moorman felt she was not ready for the responsibility of raising a child and planned to put Cooper up for adoption. However, after Cooper was born nine weekspremature and weighing only 4 pounds, she decided to raise him herself. After spending two months with Cooper in the intensive care unit, she would go on to graduate from high school and earn her college degree.[1]
Cooper began playing football at 6 years old, citing his mother's work ethic as a primary inspiration. Prior to beginning high school atGahanna-Lincoln, Cooper and his mother created a workout circuit for him in their basement.[1]
During his freshman year, Cooper was diagnosed withWolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, a rare heart condition that often manifests in an abnormally fast heartbeat.[2][3]
Cooper played college football atOhio State University from 2016 to 2020.[4][5][6] Over 45 games during his career, he had 75 tackles and 10 sacks.[7] Cooper was the first Ohio State player to ever wear the number 0, which was awarded to him for his leadership qualities.[1]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Wingspan | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft2+5⁄8 in (1.90 m) | 253 lb (115 kg) | 32+1⁄8 in (0.82 m) | 9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 6 ft5+1⁄4 in (1.96 m) | 4.71 s | 1.65 s | 2.78 s | 4.31 s | 7.02 s | 33.0 in (0.84 m) | 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) | 28 reps |
| All values fromPro Day[8] | ||||||||||||
Two days before the NFL draft, doctors discovered anatrial fibrillation in Cooper's heart. His heart rhythm was particularly abnormal, and would ultimately require three separate heart procedures to treat.[9][1]
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Heading into the2021 NFL draft, Cooper expected to be picked somewhere between the third and fifth rounds. However, his health complications caused him to fall to the seventh round, where he was eventually drafted 239th overall by theDenver Broncos.[10] Broncosgeneral managerGeorge Paton commented that he and his staff were aware of Cooper's health complications, but were enamored by his motor and leadership.[1]
After missing rookie minicamp, OTAs, and mandatory minicamp due to the heart procedures, Cooper was finally cleared to attend training camp after being sidelined for a month.[1] On June 15, 2021, he signed his four-year rookie contract with the Broncos.[11]
Ahead of the2023 season, Cooper changed his jersey number from 53 to 0, the number he wore at Ohio State.[12] Cooper lead the Broncos in sacks in 2023, with eight and a half.[13]
On November 4, 2024, Cooper signed a four-year, $60 million extension with the Broncos after starting theseason with five and a half sacks through nine games.[14][13] He would have his first double-digit sack season by the end of 2024, with 10.5 total sacks recorded.[15]
On March 21, 2025, Cooper's contract was restructured to clear cap space.[16] Cooper was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 6 after recording 2.0 sacks in a win against theNew York Jets.[17]
