Two years ago, the Chiefs had the defensive touchdown in the second quarter of the Super Bowl against the Eagles at a critical juncture of the game.
And Sunday, rookie Cooper DeJean — on his 22nd birthday — returned the favor.
DeJean picked off Patrick Mahomes midway through the second quarter and returned it 38 yards to give the Eagles a 17-0 lead.
Cooper DeJean runs with the ball during his interception return on Feb. 9. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Cooper DeJean #33 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates scoring a touchdown after making pick-six. Getty ImagesThe sequence unfolded with a little more than seven minutes left in the opening half when Mahomes rolled right and tried to thread a pass on the right side of the field.
And DeJean, Philadelphia’s second-round pick in April’s draft out of Iowa, jumped in front of the throw, immediately turned upfield and started running toward the end zone.
DeJean made nine starts during the regular season while appearing in 16 games and proceeded to start their first three postseason games, but he hadn’t recorded an interception until Sunday.
Cooper DeJean runs into the end zone during Super Bowl 2025 on Feb. 9. APAs the interception return unfolded, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni raced down the sideline to follow the play, tore off his headset and roared in celebration.
It marked one of two interceptions Mahomes threw in a brutal first half, when he completed just 6-of-14 passes for 33 yards.
DeJean added a tackle and a pass defended to his ledger, too, in an impressive Super Bowl debut.
