AJ Brown Left a Farewell Message for Eagles Teammates on His Way Out
After months of tension between the Philadelphia Eagles and star wide receiver A.J. Brown, the two sides went their separate ways when Brown was traded to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick.
The deal brought an end to the Eagles' biggest offseason storyline and removed arguably the team's most volatile potential distraction heading into 2026.
And while things may have ended on a sour note for all parties involved, that doesn't mean that Brown doesn't have at least some fond memories from his time in Philadelphia.
According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Brown even left a message for his former Eagles teammates on his way out of town.
"A.J. Brown closed the chapter on his time in Philadelphia because he was there at the facility - I believe it was Thursday - to pick up some of his stuff at the facility and say his goodbyes," Garafolo said. "On the walls there they have pictures of Pro Bowl players, and A.J. signed his, and from what I was told, he then added, ‘the best to ever play here, always open.'
"Now, that signature is going to stay up. They may have to edit out the message, but no hard feelings or anything like that. He had an affinity for the time he played in Philadelphia - and they still love him. There's still a lot of love for him inside that building."
Brown's message should come as no surprise to those that know him or have followed his career.
The three-time Pro Bowl wideout is not short on confidence, and his play on the field - he totaled 339 catches, 5,034 yards, and 32 touchdowns in four years with the Eagles - backed up his bravado.
The 28-year-old Brown will now get a fresh start in New England as Drake Maye's No. 1 target playing for his former head coach Mike Vrabel, who coached him for the first three years of his career with the Tennessee Titans.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 1:28 PM.