Philadelphia Eagles' Cooper DeJean, 22, has been linked with Nikki Bella, 42, after their locker room pics together went viral. Here's the truth behind it.
The internet received a new shock towards the end of 2025 when WWE Hall of Famer, Nikki Bella, now known as Nikki Garcia, was seen celebrating with Philadelphia Eagles cornerback, Cooper DeJean. Immediately, their romance and 20-year age difference had left the netizens stunned. Initially, what seemed to be a friendly interaction soon turned into a new topic of debate on social media. As the debate continues, Nikki has finally broken her silence, hinting at the reality behind the buzz.
Nikki Bella recently sat down for a conversation on The Nikki and Brie Show, where she seemingly dismissed her dating buzz with Copper DeJean after she was seen in his locker room. Nikki opened up about her personal life without naming Cooper and clarified that she had not been romantically involved with anyone in recent days. Nikki even joked with her twin sister, Brie Garcia, about how she not even kissed anyone in a long time, shutting down all the social media claims. In her words:
"I actually haven't been touched or done anything in so long, a really long time."
Furthermore, Nikki acknowledged that nowadays it has become easy for narratives to go viral online, often spreading baseless rumors that lead people to speculate falsely about her love life. Meanwhile, Nikki is busy focusing on motherhood and personal healing while enjoying her life on her personal terms.
Social media rumors about Nikki Bella and Cooper DeJean began after she shared an Instagram roundup from her trip to Philadelphia on December 16, 2025. It featured clips of her smiling near Cooper DeJean's locker and later dancing and celebrating with him. According to People, she captioned the video by expressing gratitude for both her "new friends and old ones." Netizens immediately began linking the two since Cooper started interacting with her on social media. Moreover, the duo's earlier sightings together at training camp and WWE in Philadelphia resurfaced again on social media, giving more context for the narrative. However, none of them have officially commented on the buzz.
Cooper DeJean is one of the NFL's most exciting young stars. He was a standout at the University of Iowa. He earned unanimous All-American honors in 2023 before the Philadelphia Eagles selected him in the second round of the NFL Draft in 2024. According to NFL coverage, he made his mark quickly and delivered an impressive debut season, helping his team win a Super Bowl. Needless to say, he has become a fan favorite in no time.
Nikki Bella is a WWE Hall of Famer who was a significant figure in the “Divas” era. She made her debut in 2008 as one of The Bella Twins and holds the record as a two-time Divas Champion, with a reign of 301 days. After a long reign, she retired in 2019 due to neck injuries, only to make a comeback in 2025. Apart from WWE, she has also made her mark in the business world, co-founding several successful business brands with her sister, Brie, including Birdiebee, Nicole + Brizee, and Bonita Bonita. At the same time, Nikki presently co-hosts, The Nikki & Brie Show podcast with her sister. She tied the knot with dancer Artem Chigvintsev in 2022. However, after his arrest in 2024 for domestic violence, she filed for divorce and holds the primary custody of her son, Matteo.
What do you think about Nikki Bella and Cooper DeJean's dating rumours?
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