source: CBS News
Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean made a surprise appearance at the third annual Red Bull Championship Run on Saturday, August 30, at Penn’s Landing along the Delaware River.
The event drew 120 competitors who each attempted to retrieve a flag mounted at the far end of a 30-foot telephone pole coated in grease and angled out over the water.
DeJean, who recently signed on as a Red Bull ambassador, was more than a spectator.
As the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, he helped apply grease to the pole using a long paint roller dipped in Crisco, and also judged a look-alike contest staged among competitors.
Philadelphia has emerged as one of the top sports cities in the country — Philadelphia Tops USA Today’s Best NFL City Rankings for 2026, and events like this keep building that identity.
What the Competition Looked Like
Most of the 120 entrants slid, tumbled, or belly-flopped into the river before reaching the flag.
Strategies varied widely: some moved cautiously and methodically, while others darted forward on their toes.
According to the Inquirer, competitors who advanced the farthest credited luck more than technique. Only three contestants managed to grab the flag.
How the Winner Was Decided
Those three flag-grabbers returned for a final runoff. Keilan Barber, from Havertown, secured the flag in both of his runs to claim the championship trophy.
Barber told the Inquirer he had strained his quad muscles during the first run but pushed through regardless, joking that he did not want a quiet car ride home with his father.
Everett Jackson, one of the event’s emcees, praised Barber’s performance by noting that the angle of the pole seemed to be working in his favor.
Another competitor, Luke Cheslock, told the Inquirer he advanced farther than his attempt the previous year, though he still did not reach the flag.
DeJean on His Own Chances
DeJean told the Inquirer he believed he could have a real shot at the challenge.
He said he would not expect to succeed on the first attempt but thought a few tries and a full-speed approach would give him a good chance. He did not participate in Saturday’s event.
Asked which Eagles teammate he thought would fare best on the pole, DeJean pointed to wide receiver DeVonta Smith as his pick.
DeJean’s Path to Red Bull Partnership
Red Bull’s profile page on DeJean traces his career from Odebolt, Iowa, where he played quarterback and defensive back at OABCIG High School, to the University of Iowa, where he earned unanimous All-American honors.
The Eagles selected him 40th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
His highest-profile moment came in Super Bowl LIX, when he intercepted a Patrick Mahomes pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown as Philadelphia won the championship.
He has since earned First-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection.