A.J. Brown’s move to the New England Patriots had seemed inevitable for more than a month, and on Monday, after June 1, the Philadelphia Eagles officially traded him to New England in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick.
Brown spent four seasons with the Eagles, but his NFL career began with the Tennessee Titans, where he played his first three seasons under then-head coach Mike Vrabel.
Now reunited with Vrabel in New England, Brown opened up about their relationship during an exclusive interview with Maria Taylor that was released Tuesday morning.
“When I first got to Tennessee, he was extremely tough on me, and I didn’t really understand what he was trying to do,” Brown said. “Obviously he was trying to push me to become the player I am today, but he was just so tough. I remember a conversation where I told him, ‘You don’t have to humble me. I came from humble beginnings.’ I just never understood why he stayed on me all the time.”
While Brown acknowledged that Vrabel was demanding, he also made it clear that his former — and now current — coach always had the players’ best interests at heart.
“He was holding me accountable, and we grew close over the years,” Brown added.
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Brown has been one of the NFL’s premier wide receivers throughout his career and played a key role in helping the Philadelphia Eagles win a Super Bowl two seasons ago.
However, last season was filled with drama in Philadelphia, and a departure often felt inevitable. Brown appeared in 15 games, recording 1,003 receiving yards — his lowest total in a season in which he played at least 15 games — while adding seven touchdowns. Despite the team’s success the previous year, there appeared to be a growing disconnect between Brown and quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Now, Brown joins forces with Drake Maye and a New England Patriots team coming off a Super Bowl appearance. He enters a receiving room that also features Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, and DeMario Douglas.
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