Nobody actually picks up Derrick Henry. It just doesn't happen in the NFL. You might trip him. You might gang-tackle him with four other guys. If you're lucky, you might even force him out of bounds before he turns your chest cavity into a pancake. But you don't lift a 247-pound "King" off his feet and slam him into the grass like it’s a Saturday afternoon wrestling match in the backyard.
Then December 1, 2024, happened.
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When rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean squared up against the most feared runner of this generation during the Week 13 showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens, the football world expected a highlight reel for Henry. Instead, they got the Cooper DeJean Derrick Henry tackle, a play so technically perfect it actually won an NFL award.
The Physics of the Cooper DeJean Derrick Henry Tackle
Let’s talk numbers because they make no sense here. DeJean is roughly 6-foot and 198 pounds. Derrick Henry is 6-foot-3 and weighs about 250 pounds of pure muscle. On paper, this is a car crash where the sedan should be totaled by the semi-truck.
It was third-and-11 at M&T Bank Stadium. Lamar Jackson dumped a short pass to Henry, hoping the big man could rumble for the first down. He didn't.
DeJean didn't hesitate. He closed the gap with a speed that most cornerbacks reserve for chasing down deep threats. He didn't just "hit" Henry; he drove through his hips. By getting lower than the low man, DeJean leveraged his entire body weight to lift Henry. For a split second, the leading rusher in the league was airborne, completely at the mercy of a rookie's form.
The "thud" was audible on the broadcast. Honestly, it sounded like a sack of concrete hitting the pavement.
Why the "Way to Play" Award Mattered
A few days later, the NFL sent DeJean a personalized email. He had been named the NFL Way to Play Award recipient for Week 13. This isn't just a "good job" sticker. It’s a recognition from the league office—specifically spearheaded by guys like Roman Oben—to highlight players who use safe, elite-level technique.
Vic Fangio, the Eagles' defensive coordinator known for being about as easy to please as a stone wall, actually praised the kid. "It was good technique, good job of wrapping up, good job of targeting where to hit him," Fangio said. When Vic gives you a compliment, you basically frame it.
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A Ghost of Sheldon Brown
If you've been an Eagles fan for more than five minutes, your brain immediately went back to 2006.
The Cooper DeJean Derrick Henry tackle felt like a spiritual successor to Sheldon Brown’s legendary hit on Reggie Bush. It’s that same "welcome to the league" (or "welcome to Philly") energy. Even Sheldon Brown himself saw the clip and loved it. He noted the toughness and the willingness to sacrifice your body for the sake of the team.
There’s a specific brand of violence that Philadelphia fans adore, and it’s not the dirty kind. It’s the "I am smaller than you, but I will not be moved" kind.
- The Weight Gap: 50+ pounds in Henry's favor.
- The Result: A 3-yard gain on 3rd-and-11.
- The Vibe: Complete sideline frenzy.
What This Told Us About the 2024 Eagles
Before this game, people were still questioning if the Eagles' defense was for real. They had a win streak going, sure, but the Ravens were the ultimate litmus test. Stopping Derrick Henry is the baseline for being a "tough" defense.
Philly didn't just stop him; they frustrated him. The Eagles won 24-19, and while Saquon Barkley was doing his thing on the other side, the defense was proving they could match the physicality of any AFC powerhouse. DeJean’s hit was the exclamation point. It signaled that the secondary wasn't just a group of "cover guys." They were hitters.
Breaking Down the Hype
The memes were everywhere within an hour. People were overlaying Black Panther quotes—"Is this your King?"—over photos of Henry on his back.
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But DeJean remained pretty chill about it. He told the media afterward that he didn't even expect to pick him up. He was just doing his job. "He's a pretty big dude, though," DeJean admitted. No kidding, Coop.
Actionable Insights for Football Students
If you’re a young defensive back or a coach, you need to pull the All-22 film of this specific play. It is a masterclass in:
- Closing the Cushion: Notice how DeJean doesn't wait for the contact; he initiates it.
- Hip Level: He gets his center of gravity lower than Henry's, which is the only way a 200-pounder moves a 250-pounder.
- The Wrap: He doesn't go for the "big hit" with his shoulders only. He wraps his arms, ensuring Henry can't bounce off.
Watch the replay of the Eagles' Week 13 victory and focus on the defensive rotation. You’ll see that the Cooper DeJean Derrick Henry tackle wasn't a fluke; it was the result of the "tackle circuit" the Eagles run every Wednesday in pads. To truly understand the impact, look at how the Ravens' rushing efficiency dropped in the following drives. Physicality is contagious, and DeJean started the fever.