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Here’s one way to say goodbye to your employer.
“The best ever played here. Always open.” That’s what New England Patriots star wide receiver AJ Brown, acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles last week, wrote on a photo of himself at the Eagles facility before leaving for good last week, according to NFL Media.
Do you think Brown had some thoughts in mind about the divorce?
Philadelphia traded Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler, to New England last week for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. The move came against the backdrop of Brown publicly expressing displeasure with his lack of targets in the team’s offense last season, with the trade only taking place on June 1 to help the Eagles stretch the cap space they took on by trading Brown over the next two seasons ; Brown, 28, is entering the first season of a three-year, $96 million contract.
Brown spent the last four seasons with the Eagles, including helping them win Super Bowl LIX. Last season (2025), Brown totaled 78 receptions for 1,003 yards (12.9 yards per reception) and seven touchdowns in 15 regular season games.
During Brown’s four-year stay in Philadelphia (2022-25), he averaged 84.8 receptions for 1,258.5 yards (14.8 yards per reception) and eight touchdowns per season. Brown ranks ninth in Eagles history with 5,034 receiving yards and is tied for 12th with 32 receiving touchdowns; he spent the first three seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans (2019-21) before being acquired by the Eagles in the 2022 NFL Draft.
As for the receiver’s new home, Brown joins a Patriots team after an appearance in Super Bowl LX and teams up with quarterback Drake Maye, who was the finalist for the 2025 NFL MVP award. Maye led the NFL with a passer rating of 113.5 and a completion percentage of 72.0%, while leading a New England offense that was second in the sport in scoring (28.8 per game), third in total yards (379.4 per game), fourth in passing yards (250.5 per game) and sixth in rushing yards (128.9 per game). The Patriots released wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who led the team in receptions (85) and receiving yards (1,013) last season, in March.
We’ll find out this winter if Brown can become “the greatest to ever play” for the Patriots.
