The Philadelphia Eagles moved to the Divisional Round with a win over the Green Bay Packers in Sunday’s Wild Card Round. Star wide receiver A.J. Brown recorded only one reception for 10 yards on three targets.
There have been multiple rumors suggesting that Brown might suit up for the New England Patriots in the upcoming season. Mike Vrabel, who became New England’s coach this week, shared his feelings about the Eagles WR.
Mike Vrabel on Reuniting With A.J. Brown
Television cameras showed Brown reading a book on the sidelines when he was not in the game against the Packers. He was reading a self-help book entitled “Inner Excellence.”
Vrabel appeared on “The Greg Hill Show” on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Amid other conversations, the host brought up Brown’s viral moment from the Wild Card Round game, saying, “Maybe if you provide free book on the sidelines, you might be able to get a certain wide receiver here.”
Vrabel had a perfect response to the situation.
“Yeah, we’ll see,” he said, stirring rumors about Brown’s potential move to the Patriots.
“I think A.J. is just trying to find ways to release — I’m proud of his development, his personal development, and working on himself and working on getting back to center. He’s a passionate player, I love him to death, and I have a very, very close relationship with him,” Vrabel concluded.
#Patriots HC Mike Vrabel on bringing WR AJ Brown to New England:
"Yeah, we'll see….I'm proud of his development, his personal development. And working on himself….He's a passionate player, and I love him to death. And I have a very, very close relationship with him." pic.twitter.com/bGcFaJStpv
— New England Sports Fellow (@NESportsFellow) January 14, 2025
Brown and Vrabel had a special bond in Tennessee, and they have remained close. When Brown was traded, Vrabel was seen shaking his head and looking frustrated in the Tennessee Titans’ war room.
Brown’s Early Heartbreak From the Patriots During the NFL Draft
The Eagles WR has been a huge Pats fan since childhood. Brown revealed that he even cried when New England didn’t draft him in the 2019 NFL Draft.
“I just knew I was going to the Patriots because I was a big Patriots fan,” Brown said on “Bussin’ With the Boys.” (35:02)
“I got a phone call, and I was like, ‘This is it.’ But it wasn’t it, it was my agent. And he was like, ‘Just sit tight.’ And I’m like ‘OK,'” Brown said.
“He was like, ‘They finna take a receiver.’ And I’m like, ‘OK, cool, bet.’ I just saw that the time just kept going down on the Patriots clock. And I was like ‘Uhh, they tripping. I don’t know what the hell is going on.'”
“So they end up picking, it said the pick was in. I know I ain’t got a phone call by now. So I’m like, ‘This s*** is over.’ So I told my brother, I told D, I said, ‘Bro, let’s go.’ And I left everybody at the house and went home. I went in the closet and cried my eyes out. I swear.”
New England drafted N’Keal Harry instead at No. 32, and Brown went No. 51 to the Titans.
Half a decade later, the Eagles are set to host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Jan. 19, at Lincoln Financial Field for the Divisional Round. Brown said after the game he wasn’t concerned about his amount of touches. He was only concerned with the fact that the Eagles won the game. However, the star WR would surely like to contribute more in further rounds.