After Two Straight Losses, Cooper DeJean Arrived at the Eagles’ Facility at 4 A.M. — and Found Someone Was Already There

After Two Straight Losses, Cooper DeJean Arrived at the Eagles’ Facility at 4 A.M. — and Found Someone Was Already There

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The city was still asleep when rookie Cooper DeJean pulled into the Philadelphia Eagles’ training complex. After two consecutive losses that exposed cracks in the defense, DeJean — the young defensive back drafted to help rebuild that very unit — knew talk wasn’t enough. He needed to act. So he decided to do what true competitors do: show up before anyone else.

At exactly 4:00 a.m., he pushed open the gym doors, expecting to be the first. But he stopped in his tracks — the lights were already on, and the sound of weights clanking echoed through the empty room.

Standing there, drenched in sweat, moving with relentless focus, was Lane Johnson.

At 35, the veteran offensive tackle could easily have taken it easy after a long career filled with injuries, accolades, and battles. But instead, Johnson was still there — still leading, still setting the tone.

DeJean later recalled the moment with respect and awe:
“I thought getting here this early would be enough. But he was already there — covered in sweat, working like he never left the field. That moment made me realize why he’s the leader, and why this team keeps fighting no matter what.”

For DeJean, that morning was more than a workout — it was a lesson in the Eagles Way: resilience, pride, and accountability in midnight green.

Head coach Nick Sirianni later said that Lane Johnson’s attitude “holds the locker room together,” while DeJean “is learning exactly what it means to be part of Eagles Nation.”

As Philadelphia prepares for its Week 7 clash with the Vikings, that quiet scene at dawn — a rookie chasing greatness and a veteran showing what it truly means to lead — has come to symbolize one simple truth:

The Eagles don’t fall — they just wake up earlier. 🦅