.jpg) DeJean in 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 33 – Philadelphia Eagles | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Cornerback | ||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (2003-02-09)February 9, 2003 (age 22) Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 198 lb (90 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | OABCIG (Ida Grove, Iowa) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Iowa (2021–2023) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2024: 2nd round, 40th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 7, 2025 | |||||||||||||||
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Cooper Michael DeJean (born February 9, 2003) is an American professionalfootballcornerback for thePhiladelphia Eagles of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theIowa Hawkeyes, receivingunanimous All-American honors in 2023. Selected by the Eagles in the second round of the2024 NFL draft, DeJean helped the team winSuper Bowl LIX as a rookie, where he returned his first careerinterception for atouchdown in the win.
DeJean grew up inOdebolt, Iowa, a farming town of approximately 920 people, and attendedOA-BCIG, a consolidated school inIda Grove, Iowa.[1] He playedquarterback and defensive back in high school, and holds numerous school records.[2][3] As a senior, he passed for 3,447 yards with 35 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,235 yards and 24 touchdowns. DeJean was the 2021All-American Bowl Adidas Player of the Year.[4]
In the 2020 Iowa state championship game, DeJean made several impactful plays, as OABCIG defeatedVan Meter. Within a two-minute span, he blocked an extra point, scored the game-tying touchdown on a 4-yard run, and, following a Van Meter fumble on the ensuing kickoff, scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 19-yard run.[5] The game was broadcast in local movie theaters and establishments across the five rural towns that feed into OABCIG High School (Odebolt,Arthur,Battle Creek,Sac, andIda Grove).[6][7]
In high school, DeJean played basketball and baseball and ran track.[8] On the basketball court, he scored 1,832 career points, placing him just behindNFL tight endT.J. Hockenson—who played football atIowa—and 55 points ahead of first-teamParade All-American andNBA playerHarrison Barnes on the state's all-time scoring list. Additionally, his 218 career steals secured him a spot among the state's all-time leaders, eight ahead ofMcDonald's All-AmericanMarcus Paige.[9]
In track and field, DeJean recorded the fastest100 meters of any runner in the state during his senior year and graduated with the sixth best long jump in state history (24–02).
Despite his athletic achievements and four-star recruit status, DeJean received limited scholarship offers coming out of high school. Ultimately, he chose to play defense at Iowa over playingquarterback atSouth Dakota State.[10][11]
As a true freshman at Iowa in 2021, DeJean played in seven games, mostly onspecial teams, and had four tackles.[12] He became a starter his sophomore year in 2022.[13][14] DeJean playedcornerback, cash (a hybridlinebacker/safety position),[15] andpunt returner for the Hawkeyes in2022, in addition to playing safety in the preseason. AgainstWisconsin, DeJean showcased his versatility,intercepting aGraham Mertz pass and returning it 32 yards for a touchdown, recording 10 tackles, forcing afumble, downing apunt on the one-yard line, and returning four punts for 82 yards, setting up a short Iowa touchdown drive. Through three quarters, DeJean was outgaining the Hawkeye offense.[16] DeJean was named the MVP of the2022 Music City Bowl after recording 7 tackles, a 14-yard interception return for a touchdown, and returning three punts for 42 yards.
During the2023 season, DeJean once again was a crucial part of Iowa's success. The Hawkeyes had a historically poor offense, but special teams and defense kept them in, and won them games. DeJean was not targeted as much, but registered three interceptions. He allowed only 22 receptions and no touchdowns during the season.[17] DeJean was active in the return game, including the game-winning 70-yard return with three minutes left againstMichigan State and a disallowed 54-yard return against rivalMinnesota, which would have resulted in an Iowa lead.[18] The referee's call of an invalidfair catch caused considerable controversy and prompted an explanatory conference call involving Big Ten and NCAA officiating personnel.[19] DeJean suffered a leg injury in mid-November, sidelining him for the remainder of the season.[20] Despite the setback, he was namedunanimous consensus All-American and earned both theTatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year honors. He was also a finalist for theBronko Nagurski Trophy and theJim Thorpe Award.
Dejean declared for the2024 NFL draft following the 2023 season.[21] After the season, Iowa defensive coordinator and defensive backs coachPhil Parker remarked, "I didn't seeNile Kinnick play, but he might be the modern-day Nile Kinnick."[22]
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | Punt returns | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | FF | FR | Yds | TD | Int | Yds | TD | PD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2021 | Iowa | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | Iowa | 13 | 13 | 75 | 56 | 19 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 91 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 165 | 16.5 | 0 |
| 2023 | Iowa | 10 | 10 | 41 | 26 | 15 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 41 | 0 | 5 | 21 | 241 | 11.5 | 1 |
| Career | 30 | 23 | 120 | 85 | 35 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 132 | 3 | 13 | 31 | 406 | 13.1 | 1 | |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft0+1⁄2 in (1.84 m) | 203 lb (92 kg) | 31+1⁄8 in (0.79 m) | 9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 4.42 s | 1.52 s | 2.58 s | 38.5 in (0.98 m) | 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) | 16 reps | |||
| All values fromNFL Combine/Pro Day[23][24][25] | ||||||||||||
DeJean was selected by thePhiladelphia Eagles with the 40th overall pick of the2024 NFL draft.[26] He made his first career start in Week 6 of the2024 season against theCleveland Browns, at thenickelback position.[27] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[28]
DeJean recorded his first career interception in the second quarter ofSuper Bowl LIX off quarterbackPatrick Mahomes, which was the first ever interception recorded by an Eagles player in a Super Bowl. DeJean returned the interception for a 38-yard touchdown, helping the Eagles defeat theKansas City Chiefs 40–22 to capture the Super Bowl championship.[29] The game was played on DeJean's 22nd birthday, making him the first player since fellow EagleSteve Van Buren in1947 to score a touchdown in a championship game on his birthday.[30]
DeJean finished fourth in voting for the AP NFLDefensive Rookie of the Year award.[31]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won theSuper Bowl | |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Comb | Solo | Ast | Sck | PD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2024 | PHI | 16 | 9 | 51 | 38 | 13 | 0.5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | PHI | 7 | 7 | 46 | 33 | 13 | 0.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 23 | 16 | 97 | 71 | 26 | 0.5 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Comb | Solo | Ast | Sck | PD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2024 | PHI | 4 | 4 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0.0 | 4 | 1 | 38 | 38.0 | 38T | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 4 | 4 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0.0 | 4 | 1 | 38 | 30.0 | 38T | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
DeJean is the son of Jason and Katie DeJean.[32] He has a younger brother, Jaxx, who also plays football for OA-BCIG.[33] DeJean is aChristian.[34]
