From The Morning Call: https://tinyurl.com/ynha7jmb
PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles traded wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots on Monday, ending one of the most productive stretches by a receiver in franchise history.
Brown, occasionally described as mercurial, arrived from the Tennessee Titans in 2022 and quickly became the centerpiece of the passing game, helping the Eagles reach two Super Bowls and win one.
But he always wanted more. He wanted to win, of course, but he wanted to be great in the process. After the Eagles dominated Super Bowl LIX, Brown posted on Instagram:
“After a few days, I’ve had time to reflect on being a champion. I tried to feel how everyone made it seem to be a champion, and unfortunately it was short-lived. Two days, in fact. I’ve never been a champion at the highest level before, but I thought my hard work would be justified by winning it all. It wasn’t.
“My thrill for this game comes when I dominate. It’s the hunt that does it for me. It’s when the DB drops his head and surrenders because he can’t (expletive) with me, the intense battles, early mornings, late nights, sacrifices. I love putting a smile on people’s faces, don’t get me wrong. But it just wasn’t what I thought it would be. It’s the journey that I love the most. Back to work”
These were Brown’s five defining moments as an Eagle:
1. Breaking the franchise receiving record (2022)
In his first season with the Eagles, Brown caught 88 passes for 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns. The yardage total broke Mike Quick’s franchise record and announced Brown’s arrival as one of the NFL’s elite receivers.
2. A monster Eagles debut (Sept. 11, 2022)
Brown introduced himself to Philadelphia by catching 10 passes for 155 yards in a season-opening victory over the Detroit Lions. It remains one of the best debuts by any player in team history.
3. Dominating the Super Bowl stage (Super Bowl LVII)
The Eagles lost to the Chiefs in the 2022-23 Super Bowl, but Brown was spectacular. He caught six passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, including a 45-yard scoring strike from Jalen Hurts.
4. Making NFL history (2023)
Brown became the first player in league history to record six consecutive games with at least 125 receiving yards. During that stretch, he looked virtually unstoppable and carried the Eagles’ passing attack.
5. Helping bring home a championship (2024 season)
Brown’s legacy was cemented when the Eagles captured Super Bowl LIX. He finished the title game with three catches for 43 yards and a touchdown as Philadelphia defeated Kansas City 40-22. He had some highlight games along the way, despite running back Saquon Barkley’s record-setting 2,000-yard campaign capturing most of the headlines.
Brown leaves Philadelphia with four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, multiple Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl ring. Few receivers have made such an impact here in a shorter period of time.
Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.