Mike Vrabel
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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
Some 4 years after the trade that essentially led to his departure from the Tennessee Titans, Mike Vrabel still has love for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Vrabel gave some pretty effusive comments about Brown and his relationship with him at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Brown spent his first 3 seasons playing for the Titans before he was shipped to the Eagles before the 2022 season in a blockbuster trade Vrabel was vehemently opposed to.
That Vrabel’s comments come as Brown spends the offseason as the NFL’s No. 1 trade curiosity — and the Patriots are fresh off a loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl — only makes things that much more interesting.
“(Our relationship) has meant a lot,” Vrabel told reporters. “I’ve watched him grow. I’ve watched him mature. I’m proud of him… It’s a two-way street of support and reminders of what got us here today.”
Trade Sent Teams On 2 Different Paths
The foundation for the Eagles playing 2 Super Bowls in the last 4 years and winning 1 of them starts with the trade that brought Brown to Philadelphia.
The long-term impact of the trade on the flip side was the undoing of the Titans — something put into stark contrast when the Titans released wide receiver Treylon Burks, the player they got in exchange for Brown.
In the deal, the Eagles sent the Titans the No. 18 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, which they used on Burks — ahead of 10 more NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowlers selected in the 1st 2 rounds.
The Eagles signed Brown to a 4-year, $100 million contract extension the same day they traded for him, then signed him to another 3-year, $96 million contract extension in April 2024. In 4 seasons with the Eagles he has over 1,000 receiving yards in 4 consecutive seasons as well as being a 3-time NFL All-Pro and 3-time Pro Bowler.
Vrabel lasted 2 more years with the Titans before he was fired following the 2023 season. The Titans haven’t had a winning record or made the playoffs since 2021 — the last season with Vrabel and Brown together.
Vrabel Not Only Former Titan Chasing Brown
Vrabel isn’t the only former Titan who might be openly politicking to get Brown on his team in 2026.
Baltimore Ravens All-Pro running back Derrick Henry talked about the Ravens possibly trading for Brown on “Up & Adams” with Kay Adams.
“We would gladly love to have him … Come on over, please A.J., come to Baltimore, let’s go get this ring … Him and Zay (Flowers), that’d be crazy,” Henry said. “And then (Rashod) Bateman, Mark (Andrews), gotta get (Isaiah) Likely back. We cooking”
That’s not even mentioning 2-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Henry and Brown played together on the Titans from 2019 to 2021 and came 1 game away from making the Super Bowl when they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game following the 2019 season.
Henry had one of the greatest seasons for a running back in NFL history in 2020 playing alongside Brown, becoming one of just 9 players in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season on the way to being named NFL Offensive Player of the Year.