Deke Cooper (born October 18, 1977) is a former professional football player who grew up in Evansville, Indiana. A defensive back, Cooper played professionally in the NFL and NFL Europe after starring at North High School and the University of Notre Dame.

Evansville and North High School

Cooper attended North High School in Evansville, where he became a standout football player. He helped lead the Huskies to the Indiana state football playoffs and was a candidate for the 1995 Indiana Mr. Football Award.

College and professional career

Cooper played at the University of Notre Dame, appearing in 45 games and recording more than 200 tackles. One of his most memorable plays came against Boston College in 1998, when he made a fourth-down goal-line tackle that preserved a 31–26 Notre Dame victory.

After college, Cooper signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He later spent time with several NFL organizations, including the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons.

Cooper also played in NFL Europe and was named the league’s Defensive MVP in 2002.