Morning Sports Update
Brown revealed that he’s had a Patriots rug in his basement for years, long before his trade to New England.
A.J. Brown prior to an Eagles game in Dec. 2025. AP Photo/Caroline Brehman
June 2, 2026 | 11:38 AM
4 minutes to read
A.J. Brown speaks out after Patriots trade: Monday’s news that the Patriots had agreed to a trade with the Eagles to bring wide receiver A.J. Brown to New England was one of the worst kept secrets in the NFL over the past few months.
Speculation over the rumored deal dragged on for months, with analysts correctly concluding that it was delayed only due to salary cap implications for Philadelphia. One of the obvious points in the ongoing trade talks was Brown’s connection to both the Patriots and New England head coach Mike Vrabel.
He discussed both subjects in an interview with Maria Taylor of NBC Sports, which was released on Tuesday morning following the trade.
Interestingly, Brown admitted that he’s had a Patriots rug in his house for several years (obviously during his time with the Eagles).
“Some things just never change,” Brown said, alluding to his longstanding Patriots fandom.
Connection to the Patriots from his youth
His Patriots connection began as a child.
“In the simplest form, my older cousin was a big Patriots fan, and at the time I wanted to grow up and be like him,” Brown told Taylor. “And as I can remember walking, I was a Patriots fan because I wanted to be like my big cousin. So ever since then, through and through, Patriot, Patriot, Patriot.”
He noted that rooting for the Tom Brady-era Patriots included its ups and downs. Brown acknowledged that he tried to kick friends out of a Super Bowl party as a child when New England lost Super Bowl XLII to the Giants.
“Truthfully, anything that the Patriots ever experienced throughout the years, I experienced,” said Brown. “I went through every high and low with them.”
Looking at his new opportunity in that context, Brown cited his elation at learning that the trade would happen.
“Dream come true,” Brown explained of the deal to New England. “I’m truly a kid in a candy store. Last night was like Christmas.”
“The kid in me is ecstatic right now.”
Draft day disappointment
Brown revealed that he was originally optimistic about being selected by the Patriots during the 2019 NFL Draft.
“I remember the time where I thought the Patriots were going to draft me in the first round, 32nd pick,” he remembered, “and I went home.”
New England opted to pick fellow wideout N’Keal Harry with the last pick of the first round. Harry played just three seasons in New England, and hasn’t been on an NFL roster since late 2024.
“Something about the Patriots breaking my heart, and I went home — I left the draft party — and cried,” Brown recalled of the night. “The Patriots breaking my heart, but here we are now. Better late than never.”
What Mike Vrabel said to him after the trade
One silver lining for Brown ending up in Tennessee (the Titans picked him in the second round, 51st overall) was that he forged a connection with then-Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. While it was an initially rocky relationship, the two eventually became close.
“He was just so tough. I’m like ‘I can’t catch a break,” Brown said of Vrabel. “I mess up in practice, he’s like, ‘Get out.’”
“But he was just pushing me to just focus on the little things, the details. He was holding me accountable,” Brown continued. “We just grew close over the years. My family became his family. His family became my family. We looked out for each other. A lot of times, that doesn’t happen. Especially in the [NFL], that doesn’t happen.”
Brown eventually flourished with the Titans, and Vrabel was visibly upset when Tennessee eventually traded him to the Eagles.
Now, things have come circle for the two, as they reunite in New England. What were Vrabel’s first words to Brown after the trade? The 28-year-old wide receiver joked about the text message he received from the Patriots head coach.
“‘Get open and catch the ball,’” Brown quoted from Vrabel. “That’s what he always said. That’s what he said when they drafted me to Tennessee, and that’s what he said again. ‘Get open and catch the ball. The mission is still the same.’”
Trivia: A.J. Brown was also drafted by a baseball team. Can you recall which one selected him in the 19th round of the 2016 MLB Draft?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: It’s the same team that employed Theo Epstein as director of baseball operations prior to becoming general manager of the Red Sox.
Scores and schedules:
The Red Sox begin a three-game series against the Orioles at Fenway Park tonight at 6:45 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
Some analysis of the A.J. Brown trade:
On this day: In 1995, the Red Sox defeated the Mariners 6-5 in 10 innings, thanks in large part to three home runs hit by Boston third baseman John Valentin (who went 5-for-5).
Daily highlight: Amid a major upset, Italian Matteo Arnaldi somehow won the point on a fantastic rally, eventually defeating American Frances Tiafoe.
THIS RALLY WAS UNBELIEVABLE ‼️ pic.twitter.com/DcUGbzIodm
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) June 1, 2026
Trivia answer: Padres
Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.
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