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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mary Clarke

‘Cooper DeJean is not a safety’ Eagles parody song, explained

Cooper DeJean has been a central part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ relentless defense this season. And he’s also a cornerback, not a safety.

If you’ve been anywhere close to Eagles fandom over the last year, you’ve probably heard the catchy jingle of “Cooper DeJean is not a safety, he’s just a corner who will lock down your No. 1” coming from a highlight video or a TikTok. But, what is the song anyway and where did it come from, especially now that the Eagles are playing in the 2025 Super Bowl?

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Well, the song is a parody of “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson, making a play on DeJean’s last name and poking fun at the lack of white cornerbacks in the NFL. The former Iowa Hawkeye was selected in the second round by the Eagles in the 2024 NFL Draft and has been kind of an anomaly since jumping to the big leagues.

NSFW language in the video below.

As to where the song came from, given that it’s the internet, it’s kind of a mystery because the original is difficult to track down.

Even still, the song has become a meme in Eagles circles, so much so that Philadelphia safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson even sung his own version of the song to DeJean on the sideline during a game!

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