Feb. 20, 2026, 2:10 p.m. ET
Sometimes NFL storylines write themselves. When a star player has history with a coach, that coach changes jobs, and a contender suddenly needs help at the player’s same position, speculation becomes inevitable. That’s exactly what has happened with Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. The connection is obvious, the logic is easy to follow.
For months, the dynamic between the two has fueled speculation about a potential reunion. This time with the New England Patriots instead of the Tennessee Titans.
But speculation and reality aren’t always aligned. Brown is firmly established as a cornerstone of the Eagles‘ offense, and despite outside chatter, there hasn’t been much credible indication that Philadelphia is motivated to move him.
Still, when Vrabel’s Patriots surged to a Super Bowl appearance behind young quarterback Drake Maye, the dots were too tempting for many to ignore. A proven No. 1 receiver paired with a rising franchise passer? On paper, it made sense.
A.J. Brown shares his true feelings about Mike Vrabel, which have recently evolved.
Brown and Vrabel’s relationship has been interesting. Vrabel didn’t seem too happy about that draft-night trade in 2022 that sent Brown to the Eagles in the first place. Ultimately, that helped lead to further Tennessee offensive inefficiency, which became part of the reason Vrabel lost his job as Titans head coach in the first place.
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It also didn’t help that Brown went off in his ‘revenge game’ of sorts vs. Tennessee in 2022. He was targeted ten times, leading to eight receptions, 119 yards receiving, and two TDs. Vrabel finished the 2023 NFL season with a 6-11 record. The Titans moved on, but there has often been a theory that he was swimming upstream with them.
Those arguments have since been strengthened by his ability to lead a turnaround in Foxborough. The New England Patriots represented the AFC in the Super Bowl earlier in February. Now, the plan transitions to improving on what Vrabel has already built. One of the first tasks seems obvious. Upgrade the receiving corps that will serve as Drake Maye’s supporting cast.
Brown’s name was connected to the Patriots as a result. It seemingly made sense. Many mentioned their previous working relationship. Some referenced his admission that he grew up as a Patriots fan.
Then, there was that practical joke with the Number 11 Patriots jersey. Remember that? The tease suggested he had been traded, but he was only teasing. He had actually been gifted with a Julian Edelman jersey.
He also called Tom Brady “the best to ever put on a pair of cleats.” Brady was also nice enough to send him a jersey, but don’t rush into conversations about a trade being a forgone conclusion. Those have been short-circuited lately. Derrick Gunn doesn’t see it happening, and Adam Schefter agreed. Brown seems committed to this new direction for the Eagles. He also offered a take recently on Mike Vrabel that we didn’t see coming.
During a recent episode of the Dudes on Dudes podcast, one hosted by Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman, Brown lamented that his time playing for Vrabel wasn’t always rosy.
“I didn’t like him, and I admit he knows that.”
That doesn’t sound like a guy who’s interested in a reunion, does it? But a more mature Brown admits now that he understands him better. A great coach saw greatness in a young player and wanted to help him achieve it. Here’s his full quote on the subject.
“Vrabe is the type of coach that he’s going to call on you in the meetings. He wants to make sure you’re staying engaged and he’s going to go over the keys to victory of the week. You better know them by the back of your hand. I used to write in my notebook because at the time, I really didn’t like Vrabes. I didn’t like him, and I admit that he knows that. So, I used to write, ‘I hate Vrabes, I hate Vrabes, I hate Vrabes.’ I was doing that to pretend like I was taking notes to look like I was engaged. But because he was so hard on me when I was a rookie and I really didn’t understand it. So, at the time I told Vrabes like, ‘Hey, like I’m humble already. You don’t got to humble me.’ But I really didn’t understand what he was trying to, you know, push me to be.”
What makes Brown’s recent comments compelling isn’t the headline about his dislike of his former coach. It’s the growth behind the admission. Time has a way of reframing experiences, especially for elite athletes who later recognize that hard coaching often comes from belief, not criticism.
Brown didn’t suddenly rewrite history. He simply acknowledged that what once felt personal was actually developmental. That perspective says as much about his maturity as it does about Vrabel’s coaching style.
Still, Brown’s stay in Philadelphia seems a reality that will continue. More importantly, none of this sounds like a player preparing to force his way out.
If anything, it reinforces the opposite. Brown understands who helped shape him, but his present, and likely his future, remains with the Eagles. Trade rumors will continue because that’s the nature of the NFL spotlight, especially when star players and successful coaches share history.
Still, actions speak louder than speculation, and right now, all signs point to Brown staying exactly where he is, as a centerpiece of Philadelphia’s championship pursuit rather than the subject of someone else’s rebuild.