Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean has offered a characteristically evasive response to persistent speculation about a potential romantic involvement with WWE superstar Nikki Bella. The 22-year-old NFL player found himself in the spotlight during a recent television appearance where the topic of the 42-year-old wrestling icon was directly raised.
A Persistent Rumour Mill
The whispers linking DeJean and Bella began circulating last summer after the pair were photographed together at the Eagles' training camp in Philadelphia. The speculation intensified considerably in December when Bella, a known Eagles supporter, attended the team's victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Social media sleuths later identified her seated at DeJean's locker inside the Lincoln Financial Field changing rooms, a detail she highlighted in a personal video shared online.
Breaking The Silence In Philadelphia
The rumour mill received fresh fuel during a recent episode of Monday Night Raw at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The local crowd began chanting "Coop," a clear reference to the Eagles defender. Initially mistaking the chants for boos, Bella questioned if the sentiment was directed at the Eagles missing the Super Bowl. Her twin sister, Brie Bella, corrected her, noting the crowd was indeed chanting the nickname.
Nikki Bella responded with a playful laugh and a now-famous quip: "Can you blame a girl for having good taste? I mean, Pro Bowl baby!" This marked her first public acknowledgement of the swirling gossip, albeit in a characteristically light-hearted and non-committal manner.
DeJean's Cautious Commentary
The focus then shifted to Cooper DeJean during an appearance on Kay Adams' FanDuel show, 'Up & Adams'. Adams seized the opportunity to press the young athlete on the rumours. After discussing his future role as a "fun uncle" for teammate Reed Blankenship's expected child, Adams pointedly asked, "And Aunt Nikki Bella?"
DeJean laughed off the direct question before offering a carefully worded reply. "Good one. I don't know about that, she's a good friend," he stated. When Adams read out Bella's "good taste" comment, DeJean responded with further deflection: "Who's she talking about? She could be talking about anybody."
He did, however, pay a professional compliment to Bella's wrestling career, acknowledging her legendary status in the industry. "She is [a legend], she's amazing at what she does. She's been doing it for a long time," DeJean remarked.
Mixed Signals And Insider Insights
The narrative surrounding their relationship has been one of conflicting hints. Earlier in the NFL season, DeJean appeared to playfully dismiss the rumours by performing a touchdown celebration themed around John Cena, Nikki Bella's former fiancé. The couple famously called off their wedding just weeks before the ceremony was scheduled to take place.
Despite this, a source close to the situation revealed to the Daily Mail last month that Bella is genuinely "smitten" with the NFL player, despite the two-decade age gap. The insider explained that while Bella spent New Year's Eve with her sister, she was "playfully talking about him to friends" and described her as "really happy."
"She's definitely keeping it as casual as possible, for now. She's just having fun and enjoying the single life," the source added, noting that DeJean's focus on the football season means any potential relationship is being approached without pressure. "Cooper is in the middle of football season so he can't do much until it's over. That's why they're keeping it casual and not forcing anything."
Further hints emerged during a WWE broadcast in late December when Bella wore Eagles-inspired colours to the ring. Raw announcers commented on her attire, with one noting, "She's got those nice Philadelphia Eagles colours on..." and his partner adding, "She does, that's been noticeable with much attention on social media lately."
For now, both Cooper DeJean and Nikki Bella continue to navigate the intense public interest with a mix of humour, deflection, and carefully guarded privacy, leaving fans and commentators to speculate on the true nature of their connection.
