A.J. Brown spent four seasons as a key part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense before being traded to the New England Patriots on June 1. His departure has brought back old footage and new admissions that are changing how Eagles fans remember his final season.
Days after the trade, Brown addressed stories that circulated about the Eagles during the 2025 season. He did not deny being a source and framed it as a deliberate tactic to motivate the team.
Jun 2, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (1) speaks at a press conference after practice at the team’s OTA at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
That admission came the same week a July 2025video resurfaced showing Brown trying to create his own fan chant after noticing cornerback Cooper DeJean’s crowd reaction. On a livestream, Brown explained his thinking. “When Coop makes a play, he does his celebration, which is lit, and everybody is like, ‘Cooooop!’” Brown said. He then floated a chant of his own, suggesting fans shout ‘1K!’ for his big plays and touchdowns.
Brown also addressed the media situation in his post-trade interview. “It was done purposely to give us [Eagles] a push,” Brown said. “I knew if I said something in the media, it would propel us to work harder.” He added, “I feel like it was okay to do,” a comment that drew immediate criticism from fans and analysts.
Brown’s 2025 regular season was his least productive with the Eagles. He finished with 1,003 receiving yards and a career-low 12.9 yards per reception across 15 starts. He went without a single reception half a dozen times during the year. Philadelphia’s offense as a whole ranked among its worst in the Nick Sirianni era.
The resurfaced clip added to the narrative of friction during Brown’s final season in Philadelphia. Many pointed to the timing of both the clip and the leaks admission as revealing something consistent about his final stretch in Philly. Brown has not publicly responded to the resurfaced video.
A.J. Brown Arrives in New England with Both Production and Baggage
Brown’s move to New England ends a four-year run that included a Super Bowl title and multiple 1,000-yard seasons. The Patriots sent a 2028 first-round pick to land him, signaling they see him as a genuine No. 1 target for quarterback Drake Maye. The trade also reunites Brown with head coach Mike Vrabel, who coached him during his Tennessee Titans years.
The Eagles had already started preparing for life without Brown. Philadelphia drafted Makai Lemon in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft and added Elijah Moore in free agency. According to CBS Sports, Brown’s 1,003-yard season marked the first time he was not the Eagles’ leading receiver. DeVonta Smith outpaced him in targets, catches, and yards.
Brown arrives in New England carrying real production and real baggage. The chant video, the leaked stories, and a down statistical year have combined to define how his Eagles tenure ended. Whether his Patriots chapter tells a different story depends on how well he settles into a new offense and a fresh dynamic with Vrabel, the coach who once told him he would never be traded.