Cooper DeJean appears to have stepped away from the fierce Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys rivalry by attending the 2026 Kentucky Derby with Cowboys cheerleader Abby Summers.
DeJean, 23, was seen on the red carpet at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, accompanied by four others. The athlete wore a stylish pale green suit paired with lilac-toned sunglasses, while Summers, 25, from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, dazzled in a sleeveless floral sundress and a large hat.
Summers captured behind-the-scenes moments of the duo preparing for their appearance at the renowned racetrack.
“Derby timeeee,” Summers wrote alongside a TikTok video, showcasing her and DeJean posing as a bugle played in the background.
In the video, DeJean wrapped his arm around Summers, sparking dating rumors among fans and fellow dancers.
“Derby day aka hard launch day 🐎💘💫 Cuteeee,” commented DCC veteran Kleine Powell, while Charly Barby exclaimed, “AAAAAHHHHH😍😍.”
Michelle Siemienowski and McKenna Gehrke expressed that they had “been waiting on this.”
@abbysummerss Derby timeeee🐎
Although Summers and DeJean’s interaction was well-received by her cheerleading teammates, some fans humorously referenced their teams’ historic NFL rivalry.
“Modern day romeo and juliet,” a fan joked, while another remarked, “A dcc with an eagles player is actually a fan fiction.”
Neither DeJean nor Summers have commented publicly on their relationship status. Us Weekly has contacted representatives for both individuals for their comments.
DeJean was previously in a relationship with Steph Wilfawn, who was with him when the Eagles claimed the 2025 Super Bowl victory.
“She’s been a trooper,” DeJean said on “The Pivot” podcast in February 2025 following the championship win. “She’s been handling a lot, going through a lot, but she’s been there every step of the way. I met her back in college so she’s been there for me, which I appreciate, and I need [her] throughout this crazy time.”
He continued at the time, “My phone’s been blowing up, especially after the Super Bowl. It’s almost hard to even go on my phone anymore just because [of] everything that’s going on — getting tagged in a bunch of stuff and things like that. But she’s been a trooper. She’s been there for me, so I appreciate her for that.”
DeJean and Wilfawn reportedly ended their relationship later that year, before speculation arose about him potentially dating WWE star Nikki Garcia.
“They have hung out,” a source exclusively told Us in January, emphasizing that Garcia, 42, is “having fun and enjoying being single” following her 2024 divorce from Artem Chigvintsev.
