Cooper DeJean Just Went Full Philly Legend in One Season
Philly loves an underdog—and in 2024, Cooper DeJean became the newest name on that list. Think Randall Cunningham’s crazy scrambles or Brian Dawkins lighting people up—DeJean’s right there now.
The rookie cornerback didn’t just enter the NFL. He exploded onto the scene. By the end of the year, people weren’t whispering about his potential anymore—they were shouting it. But the moment that made Eagles fans fully buy in? When DeJean flattened Derrick Henry.
Picture it: a 198-pound rookie flipping a 247-pound powerhouse like Henry. It was the kind of hit that makes teammates go wild and opponents double-check their pads. Even veteran Brandon Graham couldn’t hide his admiration. On national TV, he grinned and summed it up with just five words:
“I bow down to you.”
Graham, who sealed Philly’s first Super Bowl with that iconic strip-sack, knows greatness when he sees it. DeJean’s hit was more than a big play—it showed this defense was for real. And he wasn’t done.
Fast forward to Super Bowl LIX. It’s DeJean’s 22nd birthday. He picks off Patrick Mahomes and takes it 38 yards to the house. Suddenly it’s 24–0 at halftime, and history is made—he’s the first guy to ever score a Super Bowl TD on his birthday.
“Still doesn’t feel real,” DeJean said afterward. But for Eagles fans? It felt meant to be.
From Overlooked to Unstoppable
DeJean slipped to Round 2 in the draft, but that only added to the chip on his shoulder. He ended up being the second-best graded corner in the league, according to PFF, behind just Patrick Surtain II. Whether it was covering wideouts, blitzing QBs, or returning punts, he did it all—and did it well. Eagles DC Vic Fangio basically used him like a Swiss Army knife.
Even former Eagle Sheldon Brown—remember his nasty hit on Reggie Bush?—gave DeJean props for being tough and all-in every play.
With young studs like DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell stepping up, Philly’s defense locked things down, giving up just 15.3 points per game after Week 6. That kind of grit brought back vibes of the old “Gang Green” days.
He’s the Future—and the Present
DeJean’s rise came at the perfect time. With longtime leaders like Darius Slay and Fletcher Cox stepping away, the team needed a new face of the defense. GM Howie Roseman took a gamble trading up to get him, and it already looks like a stroke of genius.
“Thank God they did,” Graham said. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t even be talking about this right now.”
Next year, DeJean’s likely shifting to the outside corner spot, and the secondary might be even scarier. His energy is contagious—just ask Jalen Carter, who fired up the defense pre-Super Bowl, then watched DeJean make the play of the game minutes later.
“We preach being the most physical team,” DeJean said. Mission definitely accomplished.
With a team-friendly rookie deal and a relentless work ethic, DeJean gives Philly both flexibility and firepower for years to come. He’s the kind of player who reminds everyone that defense still wins championships.
At just 22, he’s already made Mahomes and Henry look human. So now the big question is: what’s next?
