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Cooper DeJean's high school celebrates the alum's performance in Super Bowl 59
Beau Bowman
Reporter
Cooper DeJean's high school celebrates the alum's performance in Super Bowl 59
CRAZY. I SAW SOMEONE GET THE INTERCEPTION AND GRAHAM WAS LIKE, IS THAT COOPER? I WAS LIKE, I THINK IT WAS. IT WAS PROBABLY A GOOD THING THAT THERE AREN’T TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT LIVE TOO CLOSE TO US TO HEAR ALL THAT. DEJEAN HIGH SCHOOL COACH LARRY ALLEN IS WEARING HIS EAGLES GREEN MONDAY. THE INTERCEPTION WAS FAR FROM HIS FIRST CRAZY PLAY. HERE’S DEJEAN DEJEAN BROKE OFF THIS RUN LATE IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TO SEAL THE WIN AGAINST VAN METER IN 2020. LOOKS LIKE HE’S GOT A WALL TO THE FIVE TO THE TOUCHDOWN. JUST FIVE YEARS LATER. ALLEN IS PROUD TO SEE ONE OF THEIR OWN CHASING HIS DREAM, ALL THE WHILE REPPING HIS LETTERMAN JACKET ON THE WORLD’S BIGGEST STAGE. WE DIDN’T TEACH HIM A WHOLE LOT. IT WAS ALL NATURAL, GOD GIVEN ABILITY THAT HE HAS TAKEN AND WORKED THAT INTO, YOU KNOW, HARD WORK HAS REALLY MADE IT DIFFERENT. 2021 IN THE LONG JUMP. BUT IT WASN’T JUST FOOTBALL. DEJEAN WAS ALSO AN ELITE BASKETBALL PLAYER AND WON THREE STATE TITLES IN TRACK AND FIELD. IT’S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE DEJEAN WALKED THE HALLS OF OABCIG, BUT THERE IS STILL A BUZZ ABOUT HIM PLAYING THE SAME POSITION AS HIM. I MEAN, I WATCH HIS GAME AND IT WAS JUST AWESOME TO SEE SOMEONE I KNEW OUT THERE, AND IT MAKES THE KIDS STILL IN SCHOOL BELIEVE THAT FALCONS CAN GROW UP TO BE EAGLES. IT’S PRETTY COOL TO SEE SOMEONE FROM LIKE, OUR COMMUNITY AND SOMEONE THAT I KNOW PERSONALLY MAKE IT AND PLAY ON THE BIGGEST STAGE FOR FOOTBALL. ALLEN TELLS ME THEY’RE WORKING ON GETTING AN EAGLES JERSEY TO HANG UP IN THE TROPHY CASE, SO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEVER FORGETS. DEJEAN’S PERFORMANCE IN THE SUPER BOWL. IN IDA G
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Cooper DeJean's high school celebrates the alum's performance in Super Bowl 59
Beau Bowman
Reporter
Cooper DeJean, a standout athlete who won track and football state championships while at Odebolt–Arthur–Battle Creek–Ida Grove High School in northwest Iowa, made headlines with his remarkable performance in Super Bowl 59.DeJean, a rookie defensive back, intercepted Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and returned it for a touchdown, something he did several times for OABCIG and the University of Iowa. The play helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl on Sunday, which happened to be DeJean's 22nd birthday. This thrilling moment sent the four towns comprising the OABCIG school district into a frenzy. DeJean's high school football coach, Larry Allen, proudly donned Eagles green on Monday, celebrating the success of his former player."We didn't teach him a whole lot. It was all natural God-given ability that he has taken and has worked that into hard work," Allen said. DeJean's athletic prowess extends beyond football; he was also an elite basketball player and a three-time state champion in track and field.The excitement surrounding DeJean's achievements continues to resonate at OABCIG, where students are inspired by his journey from a Falcon to an Eagle. "It's pretty cool to see someone from, like, our community and somebody that I know personally make it and play on the biggest stage for football," said OABCIG senior Andrew Parks. The school district is planning to honor DeJean's Super Bowl performance by displaying an Eagles jersey in their trophy case, ensuring his legacy is remembered for years to come.More coverage:Cooper DeJean intercepts Mahomes, returns it for touchdown in Super Bowl 59From small-town Iowa to the Super Bowl: Cooper DeJean will play for an NFL championship'GO COOP': Watch Iowa school district's hype video cheering on alum Cooper DeJean'Game changer': Cooper DeJean talks about fellow former Hawkeye star Caitlin Clark ahead of Super Bowl 59From small-town Iowa to the Super Bowl: Cooper DeJean plays for an NFL championshipWatch OABCIG's hype video cheering on alum Cooper DeJean
IDA GROVE, Iowa —

Cooper DeJean, a standout athlete who won track and football state championships while at Odebolt–Arthur–Battle Creek–Ida Grove High School in northwest Iowa, made headlines with his remarkable performance in Super Bowl 59.

DeJean, a rookie defensive back, intercepted Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and returned it for a touchdown, something he did several times for OABCIG and the University of Iowa. The play helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl on Sunday, which happened to be DeJean's 22nd birthday.

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This thrilling moment sent the four towns comprising the OABCIG school district into a frenzy. DeJean's high school football coach, Larry Allen, proudly donned Eagles green on Monday, celebrating the success of his former player.

"We didn't teach him a whole lot. It was all natural God-given ability that he has taken and has worked that into hard work," Allen said.

DeJean's athletic prowess extends beyond football; he was also an elite basketball player and a three-time state champion in track and field.

The excitement surrounding DeJean's achievements continues to resonate at OABCIG, where students are inspired by his journey from a Falcon to an Eagle.

"It's pretty cool to see someone from, like, our community and somebody that I know personally make it and play on the biggest stage for football," said OABCIG senior Andrew Parks.

The school district is planning to honor DeJean's Super Bowl performance by displaying an Eagles jersey in their trophy case, ensuring his legacy is remembered for years to come.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean arrives before the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Stephanie Scarbrough
Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean arrives before the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. 

More coverage:

    'Game changer': Cooper DeJean talks about fellow former Hawkeye star Caitlin Clark ahead of Super Bowl 59

    From small-town Iowa to the Super Bowl: Cooper DeJean plays for an NFL championship

    Watch OABCIG's hype video cheering on alum Cooper DeJean

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