From draft-night tears to a Patriots-themed Brady jersey moment, A.J. Brown’s own words over the years point to a long-running fascination with New England—now fulfilled after a blockbuster trade with the Eagles.
When A.J. Brown walked into his new life as a Patriots wide receiver, it wasn’t just the trade that mattered—it was the trail of breadcrumbs he’d left behind for years.
The Patriots acquired Brown in a blockbuster trade with the Eagles on Monday, giving New England the No. 1 wide receiver it’s been chasing. Although he’s a Mississippi native, Brown grew up as a Patriots fan. Over time. he didn’t just express interest in the team—he sounded like someone who had been waiting for the franchise to land on him.
Draft day was the first sign that the feeling went deeper than fandom.
During a 2020 appearance on Barstool’s Bussin’ With The Boys. Brown said he had a sense draft night would end with the Patriots selecting him. “I just knew I was going to the Patriots because I was a big Patriots fan. I just knew it,” Brown said. He described waiting while the clock moved. insisting he thought New England was headed his way—then getting the kind of call that wasn’t the moment he’d imagined.
He said the situation felt close enough to let him believe it was real. “Everything went fine with them and I got a phone call like ‘this is it’ but it wasn’t it. it was my agent and he was like ‘just sit tight’ and I was like ‘OK.’ He was like ‘they’re going to take a receiver’ and I was like ‘OK cool bet.’”.
But the Patriots selection didn’t match the dream. New England took N’Keal Harry No. 32 overall, while Brown was eventually selected No. 51 overall by the Eagles in the second round.
Brown didn’t frame it as mild disappointment. He said seeing the Patriots pass on him was so crushing it brought him to tears. “I just saw the time kept going down on the Patriots’ clock and I was like ‘they’re tripping’. like I don’t know what the hell is going on. ” Brown said. He recalled watching the pick move closer to being called, then realizing the call wasn’t coming. “So. they ended up picking. it said the pick was in and I know ain’t got no phone call by now so I was like this [expletive] is over. So I told my brother. I said ‘bro let’s go’ and I left everybody at the house and went home. went in the closet and cried my eyes out.’”.
A.J. Brown made another point clear in 2024, when he changed his Instagram profile photo to a picture of Tom Brady wearing a blue Patriots jersey.
The move drew attention, and Brown later explained it on X. He said the 10-part docu-series “The Dynasty” stirred up nostalgia. “TB12 is my favorite player ever,” Brown wrote on X at the time. “I watched ‘The Dynasty’ and it brought back some memories from my childhood. Go look up what he did in 2015 when he was doubted/disrespected. Yeah I see the disrespect. Motivated … yes. That’s it I Did not think changing my [profile picture] to the greatest QB ever would cause controversy. Take Care.”.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that the Patriots had inquired about trading for Brown at that time, but were told he was not available.
Before the trade actually happened, Brown’s Patriots connection also showed up when he was asked more directly about joining the team.
Last February. Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowki interviewed Brown on their podcast “Dudes on Dudes.” Towards the end of the episode. Edelman told Brown. “Just remember. we are all Patriots. you know that right?” Brown winked and smiled. When he was asked if he was going to be a Patriot, Brown said, “I’m trolling.”.
Even the moments after he actually arrived in New England carried the emotional weight of someone who had clearly pictured this before.
Brown couldn’t hide the excitement when he received a Patriots jersey signed by Brady. He posted a video of himself opening the package it arrived in, holding up the jersey as he talked. “Best to ever put cleats on,” Brown said of Brady. “Now debate that.”
And there was one more thread—less about the Patriots and more about the culture that might make New England feel familiar.
On “Dudes on Dudes. ” Brown talked about Mike Vrabel and why he didn’t understand why Vrabel was so hard on him during his early days in Tennessee. Brown said he recalled writing “I hate [Vrabel]” repeatedly in a notebook during team meetings. He later realized that the coach was trying to push him to reach his full potential.
He said he came to respect Vrabel for how demanding he was. “When I say that he holds every single [person] accountable from top to bottom. I don’t care who it is. ” Brown said. “That’s who he is and it makes the team come together because nobody is bigger than the team. nobody is bigger than the program. so you have to respect it.”.
The trade made the storyline official. But the details—tears on draft night. nostalgia for Brady and “The Dynasty. ” a playful wink when Patriots loyalty was mentioned. and a deep respect for accountability from his former coach—help explain why this move landed with so much more meaning for Brown than a simple roster change.
A.J. Brown New England Patriots trade with Eagles Julian Edelman Rob Gronkowski Tom Brady N’Keal Harry Mike Vrabel draft day tears