Cooper DeJean has delivered impressive performances throughout his second season with the Eagles, but his family is facing trouble off the field. His brother Beckett DeJean finds himself in a serious bind. After a recent arrest, attention has been diverted away from the family’s football achievements.​ Here’s what we know about Beckett and the incident.

Who is Cooper DeJean’s brother, Beckett DeJean?

Cooper is the son of Jason and Katie Wilkie DeJean. The couple has three children, with Cooper as the eldest, followed by Beckett and the youngest, Jaxx DeJean.​ The DeJean family carries strong athletic genes across generations. 

Jason played basketball for Huron University in South Dakota during his college years. Katie DeJean excelled in both basketball and softball at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa, where she became an All-American basketball player, leading her team with 588 points in her senior year. This background gave the kids a multi-sport upbringing filled with encouragement to explore various athletic pursuits.​

Beckett DeJean’s background and early life

The DeJean brothers grew up in Odebolt, Iowa, and attended OABCIG High School in Ida Grove. Cooper went on to become a star with the Hawkeyes, earning All-American honors in 2023 before entering the NFL. Growing up, Cooper was a “heck of a baseball player,” according to his dad, Jason. The two parents were always very supportive of their sons, trying every sport available to them.​

“That’s something they stressed to me: ‘Play all the sports, there’s no need to specialize in one,’” Cooper DeJean told ESPN in 2024. “That’s the only time in your life where you can play multiple sports, so why not play all four in high school?” 

This philosophy perhaps shaped their early years and set the stage for lifelong dedication to athletics. The brothers chose the sports path in their lives, with Beckett and Jaxx following a similar trajectory to their big brother in pursuing competitive football.​

Beckett DeJean’s football background

Beckett also chased gridiron glory as a defensive back with the South Dakota Coyotes of the University of South Dakota, but has not seen significant action on the field yet. The other brother, Jaxx, has recently committed to the Hawkeyes.

Why was Beckett DeJean arrested?

Beckett was arrested in Idaho for a first-offense operating while intoxicated, or OWI, per TMZ. He remains in custody following the arrest on Sunday morning, with records confirming the misdemeanor charge.​

The offense is classified as a misdemeanor and typically involves fines or license suspension rather than prison time in most cases. First-offense OWI or DUI charges in Idaho still carry serious consequences.​

Now, it’s a testing time for the family as Cooper and the Eagles prepare for the NFC Wild Card round against the 49ers. Beckett deals with these struggles on the personal front, creating a challenging time for the DeJean family.​