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Nikki Bella Shuts Down Cooper DeJean Dating Rumors With Personal Admission

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Arnab Mondal | Last updated Jan 11, 2026 2:15 PM ET

On Sunday the Eagles play a wild-card playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field with a kickoff at 4:30 p.m. ET. The home game drew fans and attention to one rising star, cornerback Cooper DeJean. The 22-year-old Iowa Hawkeyes product finished the regular season with 93 tackles, two interceptions and 16 passes defended and earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro recognition, per Philadelphiaeagles.com. His play made him one of the most talked-about young defenders.

Rumors that DeJean and WWE star Nikki Bella are dating began after Bella posted footage from Philadelphia. She smiled and posed in front of DeJean’s locker and later wore his jersey into the stadium. Social media and tabloids ran with the story, and TMZ reported the two had been "spending some time together" and going on casual dates. The roughly 20-year age gap fueled more debate.

Bella addressed the chatter on her podcast, "The Nikki & Brie Show," and said she has not been intimate in a long time.

Nikki Bella rocking a Cooper DeJean jersey in her latest IG post: “Walking into Sunday like… ” pic.twitter.com/gFdZ55950P
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) December 28, 2025

"It's crazy because I actually haven't been touched or done anything in so long," she said, per People. "I haven't even kissed someone in so long. Do I know how to kiss?" Her sister Brie replied, "You do. It’s like riding a bike." Bella joked, "I'm about to make out with my pillow to make sure I still got it."

42-year-old Nikki Bella and 22-year-old Eagles DB Cooper DeJean are now dating

(via TMZ) pic.twitter.com/1n9hkqRfoW
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) January 7, 2026

The rumor likely grew from Bella’s visible support at Eagles games, her locker-room visit and social posts. She also appeared at the Fiesta Bowl as part of WWE’s partnership with ESPN, keeping her in public view.

Nikki Bella at the Fiesta Bowl pic.twitter.com/VyaFtmrij7
— WrestlingWorldCC (@WrestlingWCC) January 9, 2026

Bella’s romantic history is not unknown. It includes a long relationship and engagement to wrestling star John Cena that ended in 2018, followed by a marriage to pro dancer Artem Chigvintsev and a split after she filed for divorce in 2024.