Cooper DeJean, Who Is Rumored to Be Dating Nikki Bella, Names Sydney Sweeney as His Celebrity Crush

Samnur Reza | 11/02/2026
Sydney Sweeney, Cooper DeJean, and Nikki Bella

For the past few months, the rumor mill has been churning out news that Philadelphia Eagles star Cooper DeJean is dating WWE star Nikki Bella. Neither of them has confirmed it, though. And the way they’ve been answering questions about it has made the situation murkier than clear.

The news of DeJean and Bella dating hasn’t come out of nowhere. On December 16, the WWE star was seen in the Philadelphia Eagles’ locker room. The two had clicked a picture with a football field in the backdrop during the Eagles’ training camp.

Nikki all but confirmed the rumors about the two dating when, at a Monday Night RAW event, crowds started chanting Cooper DeJean’s name. And she responded, “Can you blame a girl for having good taste? I mean, Pro Bowl, baby.” Or at least, that’s what we thought till recently, when DeJean revealed a celebrity crush not named Nikki Bella, 

Nikki later said that she’s “single,” while DeJean told Kay Adams, after being pressed to explain the WWE star’s “Pro Bowl” comment by stating it could have been on anyone. “She’s saying she’s got good taste? I mean, she could be talking about anybody,” said the 23-year-old.

No, DeJean, the crowd was chanting your name. Playful or not, the 42-year-old WWE star was talking about you.

The star cornerback has now revealed Sydney Sweeney and singer Tate McRae as his celebrity crushes. Not Nikki Bella. He even talked about how LA Rams receiver Puka Nacua recently shot his shot at Sweeney, but he still kept Sweeney as his “1A” pick, with McRae as “1B.”

“Can I throw out a couple?” DeJean said after being asked to name his celebrity crushes. “Sydney Sweeney… But I don’t know, Puka’s already like, sounds like, he already shot his shot with her… And Tate McRae.”

This interview with Exciting Mics came just days after we saw DeJean guest-bartending with Nikki’s twin sister, Brie Bella, during Super Bowl week. Then, at an after-party, he was seen leaving with a brunette woman, who the NY Post reported was not Bella. Mysterious indeed!

 

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So, it doesn’t seem like Cooper is in a relationship with Nikki and is simply enjoying life and the dating scene. Also, for a 23-year-old Super Bowl-winning CB and All-Pro, as Bella herself said, “Pro Bowl, baby,” DeJean might just prefer to keep his focus on football for now.

Post Edited By: Leslie Xavier
Cooper DeJean Nikki Bella Philadelphia Eagles Sydney Sweeney

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Samnur Reza

Samnur Reza is an NFL editor for The SportsRush. He holds a degree in English Honors and joined The SportsRush editorial team in 2023. Having previously worked as a freelancer and several media outlets, Samnur has been religiously following the National Football League for the past six and a half years. Samnur first started following football after Tom Brady's cameo in Ted 2. It wasn’t long before he found himself grabbing a bucket of popcorn to enjoy football games. Samnur now diligently follows most NFL athletes, their family members, and the NCAA. He considers himself a diverse writer, having covered almost every corner of the football world. He does, however, have a special interest in athlete-centric stories. Whenever they engage in off-field ventures or charitable activities, Samnur enjoys reading and writing about them. Samnur had already authored over 1500 NFL-based articles before becoming an editor. His editorial journey began just a little over two years ago. Beyond football, Samnur is a true cinephile with an extensive repertoire of films. He’s also fond of cats and has a furry friend named ‘Eva.’ During his free time, Samnur enjoys playing video games, currently immersed in Elden Ring (New Game +6).

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