On February 9, 2025-his 22nd birthday-Cooper DeJean etched his name into Super Bowl history with a stunning defensive play that not only lifted the Philadelphia Eagles to a 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs but also humiliated one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks on the sport’s biggest stage.
With the Eagles already surging, DeJean capitalized on a rare mistake by Patrick Mahomes. Reading the play perfectly, the rookie cornerback jumped the route and returned the interception 38 yards for a touchdown, becoming the first player ever to score a Super Bowl touchdown on his birthday.
It was a career-defining moment for DeJean, and it immediately went viral. TalkSPORT commentator Will Gavin’s excited call-“Steps his foot… THROWS THE INTERCEPTION… Touchdown Eagles! Cooper DeJean goes all the way!”-captured the electrifying nature of the moment and helped catapult DeJean into instant stardom.
Yet months later, DeJean isn’t done with Mahomes. In a playful offseason jab, DeJean stirred headlines again when he autographed a Patrick Mahomes football card with the cheeky message “Go Birds.”
The post, shared by MLFootball on X (formerly Twitter), exploded online, with fans reveling in the young corner’s bold sense of humor. It marked the second time DeJean has publicly mocked Mahomes since that Super Bowl pick-six, proving that his confidence extends well beyond the football field.
DeJean’s star is rising on and off the field
During a recent appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, DeJean admitted that he’s still processing what happened on that February night. “I don’t think I’ve processed it yet,” he said candidly. At the NYC Fanatics Fest, he expanded on the moment, crediting the unit’s cohesion: “Everybody in the right spot, playing off of each other… Every time it pops up on my phone, I watch it. I still get goosebumps.”
That humility contrasts with his off-field swagger, creating a unique blend of authenticity and edge. DeJean’s pick-six wasn’t a lucky play-it was the culmination of a standout rookie season.
He earned All-Rookie honors and helped transform the Eagles’ secondary into one of the league’s most dominant units. Philadelphia’s defense gave up zero touchdowns on 68 targets and had a league-best -22.7 EPA, with DeJean playing a pivotal role.
As projections place him among the NFL’s top slot corners heading into 2025, DeJean’s blend of elite instincts, physicality, and a touch of showmanship has made him a Philadelphia fan favorite-and a new rival for Patrick Mahomes.
Whether it’s game day or the offseason, Cooper DeJean is proving he’s here to stay-and not afraid to talk a little trash along the way.
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