What is the history of the Kentucky Derby?

Who is Cooper DeJean and why was he at the Kentucky Derby with a Cowboys cheerleader?

Last updated: May 4, 2026

Cooper DeJean is a Philadelphia Eagles cornerback who attended the Kentucky Derby with Cowboys cheerleader Abby Summers to publicly debut their relationship.

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Cooper DeJean's Position	Cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles
Draft Status	Second-round pick who won a Super Bowl as a rookie
Abby Summers	Dallas Cowboys cheerleader
Kentucky Derby Date	May 2-4, 2026
Relationship Timeline	Dating rumors began in March 2026 after they were spotted together at an NCAA Elite Eight game between Iowa and Illinois
Hard Launch	Summers posted a TikTok video at the Kentucky Derby captioned 'Derby timeeee,' with teammates confirming the relationship

Who is Cooper DeJean

Cooper DeJean is a cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was a second-round draft pick who won a Super Bowl as a rookie. He is from Iowa, his alma mater.

The Kentucky Derby Appearance

DeJean and Summers were photographed on the red carpet at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2026. They arrived alongside three other people. Summers posted a short TikTok video showing off their outfits with the caption 'Derby timeeee,' which her teammates interpreted as an official public debut of their relationship.

Relationship Timeline and Confirmation

Dating rumors first started in March 2026 when DeJean and Summers were spotted together at the Elite Eight game between Iowa and Illinois. Neither had officially confirmed their relationship until the Kentucky Derby appearance. Cowboys cheerleader teammate Kleine Powell commented on Summers' TikTok post saying 'Derby day aka hard launch day,' indicating the event was their official relationship announcement. Other teammates McKenna Gehrke and Ariel Brumfield also confirmed they were a couple through social media comments.

Divisional Rivalry Angle

The relationship is notable because it crosses one of the NFL's biggest rivalries in the NFC East. DeJean plays for the Philadelphia Eagles while Summers is a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. This has been compared to a Montagues and Capulets situation, and some fans from both franchises are unhappy about the cross-rivalry romance.

Previous Dating Rumors

DeJean had previously been rumored to be dating 42-year-old WWE star Nikki Bella after she posed for a picture with him at Eagles training camp. He later called her a 'good friend' during an interview.