I’m the bold Eagles rookie who can break hearts of Caitlin Clark and Patrick Mahomes at same time

Only one Eagles rookie from Iowa can break the hearts of Caitlin Clark and Patrick Mahomes at the same time.

For the once-overlooked Cooper DeJean, Super Bowl LIX already feels like a life breakthrough.

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Cooper DeJean hasn’t stopped since leaving IowaCredit: Getty

“It’s awesome to be here and to have this experience, especially as a young guy, first year in the league,” DeJean exclusively told talkSPORT on Tuesday in New Orleans.

“You get the feeling of what it takes to get back here now.

“It’s just about us continuing to do what we’ve done all year — play our game, prepare like we’ve prepared all year to go out and play our best on Sunday.”

Beat Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Superdome, and DeJean won’t just be a newly crowned world champion at 21-years-old.

He’ll also send Clark into NFL misery.

The current WNBA Rookie of the Year and former Hawkeyes superstar is a huge Chiefs fan.

Clark recently shared a playoff suite with Taylor Swift, who edges Clark as the world’s most famous Kansas City supporter.

DeJean, who played four sports in high school, once teased that he could beat Clark in a 1-on-1 game of basketball.

“I think I can,” said DeJean, who is set to appear in a new podcast entitled ‘Exciting Whites’ with teammate Reed Blankenship.

“She’d probably score a few buckets on me but I think I could pull it off.”

The 6ft and 198lb Eagles rookie received social media blowback for those bold words.

IOWA CITY, IA - NOVEMBER 11: Iowa Hawkeyes left corner back Cooper DeJean (3) as seen during a college football game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Iowa Hawkeyes on November 11, 2023, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, IA. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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He was overlooked in high school but proved doubters wrong
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 05: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates her three-point basket against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half of the championship game of the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament at Target Center on March 5, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

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Caitlin Clark played for Iowa at the same time as DeJean
The Eagles' defense is their best weapon in the Super Bowl

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The Eagles’ defense is their best weapon in the Super BowlCredit: Getty

But if Philly overcomes the Chiefs’ dynasty on Sunday, DeJean will be 1-0 vs Clark when it truly matters.

He understands why Clark bleeds red.

“She’s been a Chiefs fan for a long time,” said DeJean, who was wearing a bespoke green Rolex watch. “That’s alright. I don’t blame her.”

He also has a professional job to do in Super Bowl LIX.

“Hopefully we can (break her heart),” DeJean joked.

DeJean, the No. 40 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, played in 16 games (nine starts) this season while recording 51 combined tackles, six passes defensed, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Read More on Super Bowl LIX

He became an integral part of a Vic Fangio-coached Philly defense that answered a frustrating 2-2 start with win after win and eventual NFC dominance.

“We got off to a little bit of a rocky start,” DeJean said. “We weren’t playing as consistent as we’d like.

“But then after that bye week, we got everybody together and figured out what we needed to do to have success as a unit on defense and as a team as a whole.”

DeJean, who was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was overlooked in high school despite putting up big numbers.

Remaining true to his athletic passions set him up for a growing NFL spotlight.

“Playing all four sports in high school, I think each sport complements the other,” DeJean said.

“There’s a lot of similarities between the sports. Track obviously helps you with just about everything.

“Basketball and football, there’s some similarities there. On the football field, getting to play quarterback in high school, I think helped me a lot.

“Just to see the game from an offensive perspective, from a quarterback’s mind, I think it’s helped me as a defensive player.”

Whether DeJean becomes a world champion on Sunday or Clark watches her Chiefs win it all again, one thing is already clear for the former Iowa star.

DeJean has watched Clark soar higher and higher, and he’s amazed at what another former Hawkeye has already accomplished as a pro.

Go behind the scenes at the Kansas City Chiefs media day in the build up to Super Bowl LIX

“It’s been awesome getting to watch her in college and what she did,” DeJean said.

“What she’s done for the women’s basketball game, it’s really special.

“I think she’s probably the most exciting player to watch right now, men’s or women’s basketball. Just the way she plays the game.

“She can score, she can pass, she can do it all. She’s taking women’s basketball to the next level.”

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