PHILADELPHIA — Cooper DeJean walked the Citizens Bank Park concourse on Tuesday night wearing a black sweatshirt with his hood up, trying to steer clear of the attention.
But the Eagles star cornerback didn’t go unnoticed long. DeJean ended up on the video board a few innings later during the Phillies-Mets game, receiving applause from the hometown fans — the kind of reception that’s become the norm for DeJean over the last seven months.
DeJean’s pick-six against Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX has its own place in Philadelphia sports history. It will live in the minds of many for a long time. And it has changed DeJean’s life.
This time last year, DeJean was a second-round rookie out of Iowa who had yet to even start. Now, he’s one of the most popular players not just in Philly, but across the league. From March 1 to July 31, DeJean’s No. 33 was the sixth highest-selling jersey in the NFL, according to the NFLPA. It was the most of any defensive player and more than even Mahomes.
Make no mistake, DeJean is flattered by the support. But with the Eagles preparing for a Super Bowl rematch against Mahomes and the Chiefs on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, DeJean is also trying to put the pick-six behind him.
“It was our last game of the season, so it kind of stuck around for a little while. I think sometimes I get tired of talking about it now,” DeJean said Wednesday at the NovaCare Complex. “Just because it was last season. We’ve already played a game this season. ... It’s more people on the outside still bringing it up. I’ve moved on from it.”
“I don’t want that play to be the play that defines my career,” DeJean continued. “I want there to be even more plays that I make in big games.”
Cooper DeJean
Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean (33) celebrate his touchdown with safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (8) after an interception against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)AP
DeJean will certainly have opportunities to do that. The 22-year-old is a key cog in the Eagles’ defense, and that will remain the case for the foreseeable future.
DeJean did more than just pick off Mahomes last season. The nickel corner’s rookie year took off after making his first NFL start in Week 6. In 16 regular-season games, DeJean totaled 51 tackles, six pass breakups, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. In four postseason games, he had 18 tackles, four pass breakups and another fumble recovery.
DeJean’s efforts were recognized, coming in fourth in the AP’s Defensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Rams edge rusher Jared Verse, Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and Rams defensive tackle Braden Fiske.
DeJean was everywhere for the Eagles last year, and he was that way in last week’s season opener against the Cowboys, too. According to Pro Football Focus, DeJean was targeted only three times by Dallas’ Dak Prescott. He broke up a pass and allowed zero receiving yards.
Now, we’ll see how DeJean does in his second meeting with Mahomes, “still one of the best quarterbacks in the league,” according to the Eagles cornerback.
Maybe Mahomes will get one over on DeJean this weekend. Or maybe DeJean will pick-six him for a second time. Who knows? What’s for certain is no one will forget DeJean’s heroics in Super Bowl LIX, no matter how much he wants to leave it in the past.
DeJean’s play has already made the rounds on social media and TV talk shows this week. And surely, FOX’s Sunday broadcast will replay Kevin Burkhardt’s call of the moment.
Intercepted! Picked off by Cooper DeJean! Gets a block! DeJean ... is ... in!
As the Super Bowl rematch gets closer, DeJean is solely focused on stopping Mahomes again. But Eagles fans will continue to revel in the pick-six while Chiefs fans will turn and look the other way every chance they get.
Asked what kind of reception he’ll get from Chiefs fans at Arrowhead Stadium, DeJean laughed.
“I have no idea. I have no idea. I haven’t even thought about it, to be honest,” DeJean said. “I guess we’ll find out.”
You can guarantee it’ll be a little different than the one he received the other day at Citizens Bank Park.
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