After the Philadelphia Eagles took down the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, 40-22, cornerback Cooper DeJean dug into a slice of vanilla cake gifted to him in celebration of a historic birthday.
As if his first career interception and pick-six on the game’s biggest stage and the hoisting of the Lombardi Trophy weren’t enough, a piece of cake put the final touches on the Odebolt, Iowa, local’s very sweet 22nd birthday and an exceptional rookie season.
“People just can’t believe that we’ve got a local boy; number one, playing for Iowa; number two, playing for the NFL; number three, starting his first year in the NFL; number four, Super Bowl his very first year,” Odebolt Mayor Todd Bengford said, per SiouxLand Proud. “How cool is that?”
Less than a year ago, back in his hometown with nearly the entire population packed inside a barn, an anxious DeJean put his phone up to his ear, trying to bypass the blasting music and loud chatter surrounding him to answer a call.
He sat down on the couch placed in the middle of the room. The noise softened. The draft cam shined its light and began recording. This was the moment he’d been waiting for his entire life.
He suddenly hung up the phone, stood up, and faced those behind him: “It’s a prank.”
The Green Bay Packers were on the clock with the 25th overall pick — one of the NFL teams that was projected to eye the Iowa star cornerback and All-American. What could’ve been didn’t happen.
The last seven first-round picks dragged by. No phone call. Onto round two. The first several picks once again, still no call. Then, the phone rang; his former agent, Kyle Strongin, answered. DeJean took it back.
“Cooper, it’s Howie Roseman,” the voice on the other end told him. “You’re a fu*king Eagle.”
A lengthy conversation went on with several members of the organization. With his parents sitting beside him, DeJean turned around with a sly smirk: “I’m going to Philly.”
Not only did a dream become reality — it did so at a place of his preference. And the feeling was mutual.
Philadelphia completed a last-second trade with the Washington Commanders for the 40th pick to target the Iowa product.
“Obviously, Philly wasn’t even up on the board yet at 40, so I didn’t expect them to be on the phone when I picked it up from my agent,” DeJean said on the WIP Midday Show. “But when I heard who was on the other side of the phone, I was really excited because I was telling my agent Philly would be the place I’d love to be.”
Originally projected to be a surefire first-round pick, DeJean slid down to the second round with concerns of a season-ending injury last year and a deep defensive back pool around him.
The Eagles drafting him added another surprise element as they selected Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell with the 22nd overall pick — the same position as DeJean.
But the controversial picks turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
After an underwhelming 2023 season for the Philly defense that saw it finish in the bottom half of the league overall, the two rookies played key roles for the top-five defense and helped the franchise reach the Super Bowl for the second time in three years.
“It’s crazy,” DeJean told Fox Sports ahead of the Super Bowl. “[I’m] just grateful for the opportunity to be able to put on the Eagles jersey and be a part of something special.”
His rookie campaign got off to a slow start due to a hamstring injury he sustained during the offseason workouts.
The Eagles placed him on the non-football injury list on July 24, and he missed the first three weeks of training camp.
He returned just in time for the preseason, playing limited snaps in a reserve role behind Avonte Maddox at the nickelback position. He remained the backup through the first four weeks of the season, playing just eight defensive snaps up until the team’s week five bye.
Coming off the bye week, though, the Eagles made a defensive change — switching to the then-21-year-old rookie as the starting nickelback for its week six matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
And he never gave that spot back.
DeJean racked up 51 total tackles, six passes deflected, three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and half a sack through 13 regular-season starts. He recorded a league-low 80 big plays allowed, ranked second with the most targets without letting up a single touchdown with 73, finished fourth out of 223 cornerbacks with a 82.7 overall grade per PFF, and allowed a low 80.1 quarterback rating when targeted.
The 6-foot, 198-pound defensive back has had his fair share of viral moments, too, most notably the tackle on Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, which made him a fan favorite among the city of Philadelphia and Eagles nation overnight.
“It’s been an unbelievable ride,” DeJean’s parents, Jason and Katie DeJean, said, per SiouxLand Proud.
He and Mitchell were both named as finalists for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year but were beaten out by Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Jared Verse. Still, the recognition was well-deserved.
He continued his stellar play throughout Philadelphia’s four playoff games, finishing with 18 total tackles, four passes deflected, one fumble, one fumble recovery, and his first career interception that he returned for a 38-yard touchdown in the biggest game of his life.
Cutting toward the middle of the field, he just barely snagged a low pass from two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and darted to the opposite sideline, following a lead block into the end zone.
The play, gathering some attention on social media, too, boosted the Eagles to a 40-22 Super Bowl win, capping off a career’s worth of accomplishments in just one season.
And he did so while repping his hometown.
Ahead of the Super Bowl, he walked into the stadium wearing his OABCIG high school letterman jacket and rocked a pair of cleats that had his home area code written on them with a silver marker.
“It will always stick with me,” DeJean told SportsCenter’s Scott Van Pelt following the Super Bowl victory. “Being able to play in the Super Bowl, first of all, my rookie season in the NFL, and being able to score a touchdown is even crazier. I’m just so happy to be a part of this team and this organization.”
Drafted to a first-class NFL organization in the Philadelphia Eagles after falling to the second round. Earned the starting nickelback spot in week six. Finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Super Bowl appearance on his 22nd birthday. First career pick-six on Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl. Super Bowl champion.
From a town with a population less than 1,000 people and zero stop lights to the biggest stage in all of sports.
Just a kid from Odebolt, Iowa.