After an uneven 2025 season for Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and the Eagles’ offense as a whole, Philadelphia traded Brown to the Patriots for a pair of future draft picks. The blockbuster move came amid signs that Hurts’ once-close friendship between the franchise quarterback and star receiver had deteriorated.
While more than two months have passed since Brown’s move to New England, questions about his relationship with Hurts have lingered. During the Patriots’ recent joint practices with the Eagles, Brown offered a one-word response when asked whether he had spoken with Hurts since the trade.
“No,” Brown told reporters.
While Hurts has largely avoided discussing the state of his relationship with Brown, he took a different approach this week during a sit-down interview with GQ. “There’s no surprise that it was talked about,” Hurts told the magazine when asked whether he and Brown had remained close, acknowledging the shift in the relationship.
Hurts, the MVP of Super Bowl LIX, then effectively confirmed Brown’s comments from last month, saying, “I mean, clearly,” Hurts noted.
In June, Brown said no single incident had sparked the rift between the two former Eagles teammates.
“Nothing happened, people just grow apart. Nothing happened between me and him, or our families, wives, anything. Nothing like that ever happened,” Brown said at the time during an appearance on the “7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony” podcast.
AJ BROWN SAYS THERE’S BEEN SILENCE BETWEEN HIM AND EX-TEAMMATE JALEN HURTS SINCE HIS MOVE TO NEW ENGLAND
“Life happens, and you just look up sometimes and you just, you find yourself drifting away, and that’s fine. And I think both parties accepted that.”
Brown and Hurts were seen catching up together during the second of the two Patriots-Eagles joint practices in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
“Honestly, guys, none of that stuff even matters, man. You all should want to report something positive. You know asking the question is going to turn negative,” Brown said last month when reporters pressed him with follow-up questions about his relationship with Hurts. “So let’s not get into that. Let’s keep everything positive. It’s love my way.”
Meanwhile, Hurts offered a similarly warm assessment of Brown. “I’ve got a lot of love for him and always have,” Hurts said.
Brown owns the two highest single-season receiving yardage totals in Eagles history: 1,496 yards in 2022 and 1,456 in 2023. The Eagles won the franchise’s second Vince Lombardi Trophy the following season, despite some drama involving Brown.
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Philadelphia was eliminated in the wild-card round this past January, losing at home to the San Francisco 49ers. Brown then told the Eagles’ front office he wanted a change of scenery, general manager Howie Roseman said at the time. Sources told ESPN that part of Brown’s frustration centered on Hurts and a belief that he was not being targeted enough when he faced zone coverage.
Brown also made several social media comments and comments during media sessions during the 2025 season that appeared to reflect frustration with his role in the offense.
While Brown expressed gratitude for his time in the City of Brotherly Love, he said he’s turned his attention to a new season with a new team.
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“It’s love. I won a Super Bowl ring with them. It will always be love no matter how anyone feels. I love Philly and I will always love Philly, but I’m here now,” said Brown. “That’s where my feet are and that’s what I’m focused on.”
Long before they became Eagles teammates, Hurts hosted Brown on a recruiting visit to Alabama. Their friendship deepened through offseason workouts, and Hurts eventually became godfather to Brown’s daughter, Jersee.
The Eagles open the regular season Sept. 13 at home against the Washington Commanders. The Patriots, meanwhile, visit the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 9 for their 2026 season opener.
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