Eagles Standout Reacts to AJ Brown's Massive Comments

Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean, coming off a successful rookie season capped by a Super Bowl victory, now faces increased pressure to take on a larger role and meet heightened expectations. He has strong support from fans, coaches, and teammates, including star wide receiver AJ Brown, who has publicly challenged DeJean to become an All-Pro player this season. Brown nicknamed him "All-Pro Coop" or "APC" and stated his intention to push DeJean towards that elite status, starting with daily efforts in training camp.

DeJean faces top NFL wide receivers daily in practice, with Brown taking a particular interest in pushing the second-year player to reach the highest level at his position. While DeJean initially thought Brown's comments were "crazy," he understands Brown is trying to "speak it into existence" and now views the All-Pro goal as a powerful motivator for his daily work. Brown, a multiple-time All-Pro himself with over 4,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in three Eagles seasons, presents an exceptionally difficult challenge in practice, which DeJean believes will ultimately make him better on game days.

DeJean appreciates being pushed daily by a player of Brown's caliber. In his rookie year, DeJean played in 16 games, starting nine, and recorded 51 tackles (3 for loss), 6 pass breakups, and 3 fumble recoveries, though he had no regular-season interceptions. His first interception came at a crucial moment: he picked off Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX and returned it for a touchdown. Overall in the postseason, he tallied 18 tackles, 4 pass deflections, and that one interception. Heading into his second season, DeJean is expected to take on a significantly bigger role from the outset.