Tag: DeJean

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Super Bowl notebook: Chiefs fall flat in bid for first three-peat

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Kansas City Chiefs were vying to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

Instead, they became the ninth squad to come up short while attempting to score the elusive three-peat.

Kansas City was the only one of those teams that won consecutive Lombardi Trophies to return to the Super Bowl for a third straight time. But the Chiefs came up short with Sunday’s 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.

The Chiefs trailed by as many as 34 points before narrowing the gap late in the contest.

The Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers (twice), San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots were the other organizations to win two straight Super Bowls.

Three of those teams lost in the conference championship the following season, two others fell in the divisional round and three missed the playoffs.

Prior to this season, the Patriots were the most recent team to give it a shot, beating the Carolina Panthers in the Super Bowl at the end of the 2003 season and topping the Eagles a year later before losing to the Broncos in the divisional round of the 2005 campaign.

Kansas City defeated the 49ers to win it all last season, and this year’s Super Bowl was a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, which the Chiefs won 38-35 over the Eagles on Feb. 12, 2023.

The Steelers’ two chances for a three-peat came when the franchise won four Super Bowls in a dominating six-season span. After winning titles following the 1974 and 1975 seasons, Pittsburgh lost to the then-Oakland Raiders in the 1976 AFC Championship Game.

The Steelers later won the 1978 and 1979 season Super Bowl crowns before missing the playoffs in 1980.

–Philadelphia’s Cooper DeJean is a rookie cornerback known for preventing touchdowns. Saquan Barkley, a seven-year veteran, ran for 2,005 yards, caught 33 passes for 278 yards and scored 15 touchdowns this season.

So among the Eagles’ players who played in Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX on their birthday, guess who found the end zone?

Midway through the second quarter, with the Eagles leading 10-0, the 22-year-old DeJean stepped in front of a pass by Patrick Mahomes near the right sideline, crossed the field and found blockers near the left sideline for a 38-yard touchdown. It was his first NFL interception and touchdown.

Barkley, 28, finished with 97 total yards from scrimmage. He rushed for 57 yards on 25 carries, and his 40 yards receiving came on six catches.

ESPN had the pair on their set for a postgame interview, where host Chris Berman awarded them with birthday cake.

–In a game nearly free from injuries, the one notable exit was that of Kansas City Chief star defensive tackle Chris Jones, who left the game in the third quarter with a knee issue and did not return.

Jones went down on a run by Barkley with about six minutes left in the period. He was ruled doubtful to return soon after.

Earlier in the game, Jones was seen receiving treatment on his neck after the Chiefs attempted and failed to stop a Philadelphia “tush push” touchdown.

Jones, who recorded one quarterback hit, is a three-time All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion during his tenure with Kansas City. He signed a five-year, $158.75 million free agent deal with the Chiefs in March 2024 that made him the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history.

Jones had one sack earlier this postseason against Houston and five in the regular season.

–With the state of NFL officiating seemingly under extra scrutiny in recent weeks, referee Ron Torbert’s crew doled out penalties to the Chiefs and Eagles in similar numbers.

Kansas City was dinged seven times for 75 yards, and Philadelphia was flagged eight times for 59 yards.

Notably, on the Eagles first possession, they faced fourth-and-2 at midfield and Jalen Hurts appeared to complete a 32-yard pass to A.J. Brown. However, Brown was called for offensive pass interference amid some hand-fighting with cornerback Trent McDuffie, and the Eagles punted on fourth-and-12 instead.

Fox analyst Tom Brady expressed concern with the call.

“(Brown is) a big, physical, strong receiver. Just getting off the press on McDuffie. Aw, don’t like that one bit. This is too critical of a game,” Brady said.

–Field Level Media

Feb 29, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa defensive back Cooper Dejean (DB06) talks to the media during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles sign second-round pick CB Cooper DeJean

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Eagles signed cornerback Cooper DeJean to his four-year rookie contract on Monday.

The deal for the second-round pick is worth $9.28 million over four seasons, according to multiple reports.

DeJean was the 40th overall selection of the 2024 draft.

DeJean had seven interceptions in 30 college games over three seasons at Iowa and returned three of the picks for touchdowns.

He was limited to 10 games last season after sustaining a broken fibula in practice in mid-November. DeJean had 41 tackles and two interceptions and also returned a punt for a touchdown while averaging 11.5 yards per return.

“The guy has every tool in his body,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said. “He is an elite athlete, elite competitor. You know, he’s done really everything on the football field. We haven’t even talked about his ability to return and make key plays.

“You know, you get a chance, and you talk to people at Iowa, and they talk about how legendary of a player, of a career that this guy has had, his ability to make big plays in big moments of a game.”

Philadelphia has signed eight of its nine draft picks. First-round cornerback Quinyon Mitchell of Toledo, who was selected 22th overall, is the club’s lone unsigned pick.

–Field Level Media

Iowa defensive back Cooper Dejean (DB06) talks to the media during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa DB Cooper DeJean healthy, certifies ‘freak’ status at pro day

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Versatile Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean proved his health and certified his celebrated “freak” status at a pro day workout on Monday.

DeJean spent most of the pre-draft circuit rehabbing his left leg after a season-ending broken fibula in November. Since that practice injury in Iowa City, he was unable to participate in all-star games and the NFL Scouting Combine, instead setting up a private workout for scouts and then blowing them away.

DeJean weighed 202 pounds at just under 6-foot-1, ran in the 4.4s and posted a 10-foot-4-inch broad jump and 38.5-inch vertical, according to results posted by NFL Network from the event.

An All-American cornerback at Iowa, DeJean also starred as a kick returner. Some NFL teams view him as a safety and others anticipate a hybrid role blending responsibilities of a safety, cornerback and slot corner.

“I feel like I have the ability to play multiple different positions on the back end,” DeJean said at the Combine in February.

Speed and suddenness are trademarks that made him one of the top playmakers for the Hawkeyes, whose coaches long advertised DeJean as one of the “freaks” of the program.

–Field Level Media

Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Cooper DeJean (3) reacts during the second quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa DB Cooper DeJean running, not ready to test for scouts

Posted on | by Field Level Media

INDIANAPOLIS — Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean resumed running full speed last week and his recovery from a broken fibula in November is on schedule.

But DeJean said at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday that he’s not ready for athletic testing or on-field position drills and plans to hold a workout for scouts “sometime before the draft.” He’s unlikely to be ready to participate in Iowa’s pro day scheduled for March 18.

DeJean played cornerback at Iowa but NFL teams are discussing a hybrid role with him that could intertwine responsibilities of a safety, cornerback and slot cornerback.

“I feel like I have the ability to play multiple different positions on the back end,” DeJean said.

Speed and suddenness are trademarks that made him one of the top playmakers for the Hawkeyes, and scouts expect him to test very well eventually in events such as the 40-yard dash, vertical, short shuttle and broad jump.

Where he goes in the 2024 NFL Draft might be dependent upon how the top of the draft shakes out. DeJean said he has met with the Arizona Cardinals, who have multiple first-round picks and another unique secondary weapon in Budda Baker, and the Pittsburgh Steelers among several others.

DeJean peppered Green Bay Packers 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness and another former Iowa teammate, Broncos cornerback Riley Moss, about what to expect this week.

But Big Ten seasoning as a leader of a dominant defense at Iowa might have DeJean ready to step into a starring role immediately. He said the conference delivered big tests every Saturday, but one stands out as the most difficult.

“Marvin Harrison Jr.,” DeJean said of the Ohio State receiver and likely top-5 pick. “The name speaks for itself.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 4, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats wide receiver Cam Johnson (14) tries to catch a pass as Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Cooper DeJean (3) defends during the first half at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Iowa CB Cooper DeJean sustains major leg injury

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Iowa star cornerback Cooper DeJean is likely done for the season after sustaining a serious leg injury during Wednesday’s practice, according to multiple media reports.

The Athletic reported that DeJean has a broken fibula. The school hasn’t announced specifics at this point.

DeJean also was named Wednesday as one of five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy, which goes to the nation’s top defender. He also is a semifinalist for the Bednarik, Thorpe and Lott awards.

DeJean has 41 tackles and two interceptions this season. He also has returned a punt for a touchdown while averaging 11.5 yards per return.

Last season, DeJean intercepted five passes and returned three of them for touchdowns.

DeJean is forecasted to be a mid-first-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft if he enters his name.

Also named a Nagurski finalist were Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton, Georgia safety Malaki Starks, Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts and North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson.

Iowa and Illinois face each other Saturday at Iowa City, Iowa.

–Field Level Media