Cooper DeJean and Nikki Bella age difference: How old are the Eagles star and his WWE girlfriend?

Jake Mozarsky

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Cooper DeJean and Nikki Bella age difference: How old are the Eagles star and his WWE girlfriend? image

Accolades are stacking up quickly for Cooper DeJean, who has established himself as one of the best young cornerbacks in the NFL since his arrival.

The 2024 second-round draft pick has been exceptional in a dynamic Eagles secondary, playing with the poise of a seasoned veteran. His most defining moment came on the biggest stage, however, when he turned a Super Bowl LIX matchup against Patrick Mahomes on its head by delivering a critical interception and returning it for a game-altering touchdown.

The cornerback's rising public profile is not limited to the field, either. In late 2025 and early 2026, DeJean became the subject of widespread tabloid buzz due to reports confirming he was casually dating WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella, the ex-girlfriend of iconic wrestler-turned-actor John Cena. The high-profile pairing — notable due to the nearly 20-year age gap between the Pro Bowler and WWE star — drew significant media attention.

Here's more on the two's rumored relationship.

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Cooper DeJean-Nikki Bella age difference

DeJean and Bella have nearly a 20-year age difference. The Philadelphia Eagles cornerback is 22 years old and in contrast, the WWE Hall of Famer is 42. 

This significant age gap has contributed heavily to the widespread media attention and social media buzz surrounding the dating reports. The contrast between DeJean, a rising star in his second NFL season, and Bella, a veteran celebrity navigating motherhood and her own career, has added intrigue into their relationship.

How old is Nikki Bella?

Bella is 42 years old. She was born on Nov. 21, 1983.

Bella’s WWE career, alongside her twin sister Brie as The Bella Twins, was highly influential, especially during the 2010s. She signed with WWE in 2007 and made her debut on the "SmackDown" brand in 2008. Bella is a two-time WWE Divas Champion, and her second reign stands as the longest in the title’s history at 301 days.

The duo became key figures in WWE’s rise in mainstream pop culture, largely due to their roles on reality television shows like "Total Divas." For their accomplishments and impact on women’s wrestling, Nikki and her sister Brie were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021.

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How old is Cooper DeJean?

DeJean was born on February 9, 2003, making him 22 years old.

DeJean played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 2021 to 2023, where he received unanimous All-American honors in his final season. During his time at Iowa, he demonstrated exceptional versatility, playing cornerback, a hybrid safety/linebacker "cash" position, and excelling as a punt returner. He was named the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and the Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year in 2023.

Following his impressive collegiate career, the Philadelphia Eagles selected him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 40th overall pick, with the team trading up to secure the versatile defensive back.

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Cooper DeJean-Nikki Bella relationship timeline

The relationship between  DeJean and Bella began sparking public attention in late 2025 and was confirmed as "casual dating" in early 2026, per TMZ.

In 2024, Bella got divorced from professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev following a publicized domestic dispute.

Rumors about Bella and DeJean began roughly a year later with isolated sightings, including Nikki Bella being photographed at an Eagles training camp wearing custom team gear and posing with DeJean on the field. During the 2025 regular season, she attended multiple Eagles home games, most notably one against the Raiders, where she was spotted wearing a DeJean jersey.

In early January 2026, multiple sources, led by TMZ, report that DeJean and Bella are casually dating. Sources confirm they have been spending time together and going on dates, sharing a mutual attraction. Sources emphasize that despite the dates, Bella remains "very single" and is not in a committed relationship, with her career and co-parenting remaining her top priority.

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How did Cooper DeJean and Nikki Bella meet?

The first public sign of a connection between DeJean and Bella appeared in August 2025, when DeJean attended a WWE RAW event in Philadelphia with Eagles staffer Dom "Big Dom" DiSandro to see Bella perform.

The public speculation intensified in December 2025 when Bella was wearing DeJean's jersey and posing with him on the field at training camp and later in his locker room after a victory against the Las Vegas Raiders. The two were also seen together celebrating at a local bar in Philadelphia after that game.

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Nikki Bella dating history

When she was 20, Nikki Bella secretly married her high school sweetheart in a quick Las Vegas ceremony officiated by an Elvis impersonator. The marriage was short-lived, lasting only about three years, and she kept the wedding a secret from her family and future partners, including John Cena, for years afterward.

Bella began dating fellow WWE star John Cena in late 2012. Their highly publicized six-year relationship was a cornerstone of the reality shows "Total Divas" and "Total Bellas." Cena proposed to her in the ring at WrestleMania 33 in 2017. However, the couple called off their engagement and ended their relationship in April 2018, primarily due to an ongoing disagreement over having children. Cena did not want children, whereas Bella very much did.

Bella met professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev in 2017 while partnered with him on "Dancing with the Stars." They began dating in 2019, got engaged later that year, and welcomed their son, Matteo, in July 2020. The couple married in August 2022, but Bella filed for divorce in September 2024 following a publicized domestic dispute, with the divorce finalized two months later.

Following her divorce, Nikki Bella was linked to Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean in late 2025. Sources confirmed to multiple outlets in early 2026 that the pair are casually dating.

Staff Writer