Ex-Hawkeye star Cooper DeJean delivers TD, wins Super Bowl LIX with Philadelphia Eagles

Posted by author February 10, 2025 Football

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IOWA CITY — On his 22nd birthday, former Iowa football star Cooper DeJean became a Super Bowl champion as the Philadelphia Eagles knocked off the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in New Orleans.

The Chiefs, who were in pursuit of their third consecutive Super Bowl title, were dethroned by the Eagles with a final score of 40-22.

DeJean was one of the stars of the game on a Philadelphia defense that stifled Kansas City.

With a little more than seven minutes remaining in the second quarter, DeJean picked off Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes and returned it 38-yards for a touchdown to extend the Eagles’ early lead. The play was eerily reminiscent of his time with the Hawkeyes.

DeJean, a product of OABCIG High School in western Iowa, now stands on the mountaintop of the sport after the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX (59).

“Playing for coach Parker — it made me into the football player I am today,” DeJean said in June 2024, referring to Iowa defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Phil Parker. “He just expects so much out of each and every one of his guys on the defensive side. And I think that’s what makes us that good year in and year out. They’ll do it again this year, I’m sure … So I owe a lot to him. He’s taught me a lot about the game that I didn’t know from small town in Iowa to the University of Iowa.”

DeJean broke out in his second season at the University of Iowa. At defensive back, DeJean intercepted five passes, three of which he returned for touchdowns. DeJean carried momentum over into his junior season, where he delivered an iconic moment in the program’s history with a go-ahead punt return touchdown late in the fourth quarter against Michigan State.

Later that season against Minnesota, DeJean went viral when another potential go-ahead punt return touchdown was called back due to an invalid fair catch ruling.

DeJean’s Iowa career was cut short when he fractured his fibula during a practice leading up to Iowa’s matchup with Illinois in November. DeJean missed the final four games of the season but still earned unanimous consensus All-American status.

He declared for the NFL Draft in early 2024, making for a rather quiet ending to what had been a remarkable Iowa career.

“If you asked me three years ago if I’d be in this position, I’d tell you ‘no,'” DeJean said prior to declaring for the NFL Draft. “To be honest, when I first committed here and got here, I didn’t even know if I could play at this level coming from a small-town school in Iowa.”

After making the decision to turn pro, many expected DeJean to be a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. But that took a turn. DeJean slipped out of the first round, meaning that he had to wait for the second day of the draft for his name to come off the board. He was selected 40th overall by the Eagles.

“Yeah, it was crazy,” DeJean told the Register in June. “Those two days were pretty stressful until I heard my name called. Obviously, we were hoping for night one but didn’t happen. I’m glad I got the opportunity to continue to play football in Philadelphia. I’m looking forward to that. We’ve got a great group of guys, great veterans. I’m looking forward to learning from them.”

DeJean made meaningful contributions to the Eagles in his first NFL season. He appeared in 16 regular-season games, nine of which were starts. During those 16 appearances, DeJean recorded 51 tackles, including three tackles for loss, plus one forced fumble. He was also an impactful member of Philadelphia’s special teams unit, returning 21 punts for 211 yards.

Though he did not win the award, DeJean was among the finalists for AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

DeJean appeared in each of Philadelphia’s four postseason wins. The final game of Philadelphia’s postseason run presented the biggest challenge: Finding a way to beat megastar Mahomes.

But DeJean and the Eagles accomplished that, as well. It is just the second Super Bowl title in the franchise’s history.

Already a legend in Iowa, DeJean’s legacy continues to grow, as he now has helped deliver a championship to the city of Philadelphia.

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com