A.J. Brown won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in February 2025. Twelve months later, his future with the team is the biggest question of the NFL offseason.
The Eagles wide receiver posted 1,003 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in the 2025 season, yet the defending Super Bowl champions could not survive the Wild Card round, losing 23-19 to the San Francisco 49ers. Brown finished that playoff exit with just 25 yards on three catches, dropped two costly passes late in the game, and was seen in a heated sideline exchange with head coach Nick Sirianni.
Now, with his future in Philadelphia uncertain, a familiar face from his past may be ready to come calling.
NFL analyst Brian Baldinger [dropped](https://x.com/AnthonyLGargano/status/2024894240459739199?s=20) a revealing detail on “The Anthony Gargano Show” on Friday that instantly turned heads across the league. His comments came just one day after Brown reflected on his early career during an appearance on the “Dudes on Dudes” podcast hosted by Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, bringing the Vrabel reunion conversation into sharp focus.
Baldinger recalled Vrabel’s time as Tennessee Titans head coach, just before Brown entered the final year of his rookie contract ahead of the 2022 draft. According to Baldinger, Vrabel made clear to those inside the organization, “If there is one player on this team I’m never trading, it’s A.J. Brown.”
The admiration went beyond football. Vrabel respected Brown as both a player and a person, praising his physical, aggressive approach to the game and the strong bond they had built over three seasons together.
That made the draft-day trade to Philadelphia in April 2022 a painful moment for Vrabel, a decision driven by then-Titans general manager Jon Robinson rather than the coaching staff.
In the 2019-2021 seasons under Vrabel in Tennessee, Brown established himself as one of the most dominant receivers in the league, totaling 185 receptions for 2,995 yards and 24 touchdowns. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2020 after posting 1,075 yards and 11 touchdowns, his best season as a Titan. Those numbers made the decision to trade him even harder to accept inside the Tennessee coaching staff, and the fallout contributed to growing friction within the organization.
Brown himself has been open about that difficult start. On the [“Dudes on Dudes](https://youtu.be/pgua8uiouVk?si=Pp0ojeqFsfX5tUaj)” podcast, he admitted that as a rookie he would write “I hate Vrabel” in his notebook during team meetings, struggling with the coach’s demanding approach.
But he added that over time that tension turned into genuine respect, saying about Vrabel: “You have to respect it. I’m so excited for him; he deserves this opportunity.”
Baldinger’s comments suggest that bond never faded and could now drive a serious reunion conversation in New England.
It was not only the playoff exit that raised questions about Brown’s future in Philadelphia. During the 2025 regular season, he appeared on a Twitch livestream and told fantasy managers to get rid of him, a public signal of his growing frustration with his limited involvement in the Eagles offense.
With Vrabel now leading a Patriots rebuild around young quarterback Drake Maye, New England needs proven weapons to develop their offense. Brown fits that need perfectly, and his bond with Vrabel adds a personal dimension that goes well beyond a simple roster move.
The Eagles face a complicated offseason as defending champions who crashed out in the first round. No deal has been reached yet, but with Vrabel’s admiration for Brown and New England’s clear need at receiver, the 2026 season could bring a significant move that changes the outlook for both teams.