An awkward Cooper DeJean is remaining coy over his rumored romance with Nikki Bella after speaking out on the WWE superstar for the very first time.
The Eagles cornerback, 22, has been linked with 42-year-old Bella ever since they posed together at Philadelphia’s training camp over the summer, just months before she attended the team’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders in December.
After sharing a video that highlighted her time at Lincoln Financial Field, fans spotted the stunning wrestler – who is an Eagles fan – sitting at his locker inside the team’s changing room.
Bella broke her silence on the speculation at a WWE show in Philadelphia on Monday, joking that she has ‘good taste’ when her twin sister Brie pointed out that the crowd were chanting ‘Coop.’
And now DeJean has addressed it himself after being grilled about Bella by sports host Kay Adams on her FanDuel show ‘Up & Adams’.
As he discussed the prospect of being a ‘fun uncle’ when Eagles teammate and good friend Reed Blankenship’s baby is born this year, Adams teased the NFL player by asking: ‘And Aunt Nikki Bella?’
Cooper DeJean (right) was grilled about talk of a romance with Nikki Bella by Kay Adams (left)
Bella, 42, has been linked with the 22-year-old Philadelphia Eagles player in recent months
DeJean laughed before saying: ‘Good one. I don’t know about that, she’s a good friend.’
Adams then read out the quote from Bella about having ‘good taste’ before DeJean said: ‘Who’s she talking about? She could be talking about anybody.’
The Super Bowl winner also added about his rumored lover’s wrestling talent: ‘She is [a legend], she’s amazing at what she does. She’s been doing it for a long time.’
During an edition of Monday Night Raw at Xfinity Mobile Arena, Bella was subjected to chants of ‘Coop’ from the Philly crowd.
The women’s wrestling icon initially responded after mistaking the chants for boos: ‘Is that for the Eagles not getting in the Super Bowlor us?’
Sister Brie then told her: ‘I actually think they’re saying “Coop”…’
After laughing, Nikki joked: ‘Can you blame a girl for having good taste? I mean, Pro Bowl baby!’
At the end of December Bella wore Eagles-inspired colors to the ring, before Raw announcers dropped a major hint about her new beau.
One initially noted on air: ‘She’s got those nice Philadelphia Eagles colors on…’
Bella broke her silence on the DeJean rumors at a WWE show in Philadelphia on Monday night
In recent months she has made it known that she is a fan of the Philadelphia cornerback
In response, his partner added: ‘She does, that’s been noticeable with much attention on social media lately.’
DeJean did previously appear to shoot down any talk of a romance when he performed a John Cena-themed celebration on the NFL field, seemingly taking the side of Bella’s ex-fiance – who she was weeks away from marrying before they called off the wedding
However, last month the Daily Mail revealed Bella is ‘smitten’ with the NFL player despite the 20-year age gap between them.
‘Nikki spent New Year’s Eve with her sister. But it doesn’t mean she wasn’t thinking about Cooper,’ an insider explained.
‘She’s smitten by him and playfully talks about him to friends. She’s really happy and it’s an exciting time for her – but she is definitely keeping it as casual as possible, for now. She’s just having fun and enjoying the single life.
‘Cooper is in the middle of football season so he can’t do much until it’s over. That’s why they’re keeping it casual and not forcing anything.’
