A.J. Brown says ‘no bad blood’ with Jalen Hurts, and admits he always wanted to be a Patriot in first interview since trade
The former Eagles receiver embraced his role as the team’s public villain — and showed off a Patriots rug he’s had in his home for “a few years” — during an interview with Maria Taylor.
A.J. Brown always wanted to be a Patriot.
In his first interview after the long-anticipated trade to New England, Brown told NBC’s Maria Taylor that even while winning a Super Bowl with the Eagles, he had a Patriots rug in his home — and that he was experiencing all the ups and downs of the franchise along with his fellow Pats fans.
“This is my team,” Brown said. “This is my team since I was a kid. … I was doing what I was supposed to be doing as an Eagle, but this is it.”
The receiver played four seasons with the Eagles after arriving in a 2022 trade. He made three All-Pro teams and won Super Bowl LIX. But his time in Philadelphia also was rife with controversy, especially as Brown‘s relationship with quarterback and friend Jalen Hurts appeared to deteriorate, and he frequently called out the offense.
» READ MORE: The Eagles’ saga with A.J. Brown is finally over. His trade to the Patriots gives way to questions for both parties.
Brown said that while he often earned criticism from outside the building for those statements, he wanted to use the power he had to motivate the team to be better. He said he was not concerned with being viewed as the villain.
“I didn’t mind being viewed as whatever picture was painted,” Brown said. “Because I know, like my teammates know, I had their back. … Nothing I ever said was for personal gain. It was always to help this team win and try to be our better self.
Brown also addressed the rumored beef with Hurts, saying that while the two are not as close as they once were, “nothing happened,” “there’s no bad blood,” and Brown still loves “him to death.”
“I didn’t truly understand why our friendship became the center of everyone’s attention when it came to football, because looking back on it, we haven’t been as close as we were [for] a couple years now, but that didn’t stop anything,” Brown said.
» READ MORE: Good riddance: Superdiva wideout A.J. Brown’s talents couldn’t compensate for all of the headaches | Marcus Hayes
“We still competed, we still pushed each other, we still led the team. It was just kind of strange, people just got so fixated on our relationship and wanted to talk about maybe because the history of this place, but that wasn’t what this was. I’m going to say it to you, I’m going to say it on camera: I have nothing but love for him. I want him to do well and accomplish everything that his heart desires.”
As for if there’s any specific reason for their changing relationship, Brown said the two ultimately just grew apart, and “both parties accepted that.”
You can watch the full interview here.
A.J. Brown is officially an Eagle no more! We knew the move was coming for weeks, if not months, but that doesn't make the departure of the Pro Bowl wide receiver and Super Bowl champion any less jarring. The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane and David Murphy react to general manager Howie Roseman's trade with the New England Patriots. Listen here.
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