AJ Brown Reflects on Relationship with Jalen Hurts After Trade

AJ Brown and Jalen Hurts aren’t as close as they used to be, but Brown emphasizes that there’s no significant animosity between them.

The two were teammates on the Eagles and had a strong friendship dating back to their college days. However, since Brown’s recent trade to the Patriots, their bond has somewhat faded. Despite this, he insists that “nothing happened” to create any rift.

In an interview with Maria Taylor, Brown said, “People just move away… Things happen in life.” He acknowledged that sometimes friendships take a backseat, but it’s a natural part of life. “I think both parties have accepted that,” he added.

When asked about the current state of their relationship, Brown was calm. “We’re not as close as we once were, and I think that’s okay. There’s no bad blood. I love him. I want him to be successful,” he expressed, noting that there remains affection and respect between them.

Interestingly, he mentioned that he never understood why their friendship received so much attention when it came to their performance on the field. “In the last few years, we weren’t as tight, but that didn’t stop us from competing and pushing each other,” Brown reflected.

While he found success with the Eagles—culminating in two Super Bowl appearances and a win—tensions did arise, particularly regarding his role in a run-heavy offense. After their victory against the Chiefs in the 2025 Super Bowl, Brown remarked, “I think we set too high expectations for ourselves.”

The Eagles faced disappointment the following season, losing to the 49ers in the wild card round. “This city expects you to win every year, and rightly so,” Brown said. He added, “We have to win, we have to win, we have to win.” This intense focus on winning, he suggested, could lead to pressure that affects performance.

Brown ended the last season with 1,003 yards—the least he’s had while playing for the Eagles—and he sometimes publicly voiced his frustrations about not being more involved. “I can’t say that every moment was handled in the best way,” he admitted. “It was wrong, especially if I was on social media.”

Now, as he prepares for a new chapter with the Patriots, there’s hope for a fresh start for Brown.