PHILADELPHIA — A.J. Brown, alongside some of his Philadelphia Eagles teammates, found himself outside the locker room of the Los Angeles Lakers, reminiscent of a die-hard fan hoping for a chance to meet LeBron James.
As fate would have it, James noticed Brown along with Darius Slay and other Eagles players, greeting them with a hearty embrace and posing for pictures together. With four championships under his belt, James is no stranger to the essence of victory, and for Brown, seizing this unique moment to connect with the NBA’s leading scorer was an opportunity he couldn’t turn down.
“LeBron is one of my favorite players,” Brown expressed. “I didn’t grow up idolizing Michael Jordan; LeBron was the player I looked up to.”
This season, Brown even drew inspiration from James’ approach to success, recalling an instance where he was seen reading on the sidelines. During the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals, James was spotted flipping through “The Alchemist” while Brown was engaged in “Inner Excellence” by Jim Murphy during a game.
Having pursued a degree in journalism at the University of Mississippi, Brown understands that the ultimate headline still looms ahead for the Eagles: Super Bowl champions.
The Eagles came achingly close to achieving that goal two years prior, falling just short with a 38-35 defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs. As they prepare for another face-off next weekend in New Orleans, the team remains haunted by the memories of missed chances to secure their franchise’s second Super Bowl championship in the closing moments of that game.
Just a few critical plays could have changed the outcome, yet questions about that game tend to make the players uneasy. Quarterback Jalen Hurts rebuffed inquiries regarding his most vivid memory of the Super Bowl with a curt “next question.” Brown specifically recalled a moment when he missed an opportunity to score, a thought that continues to trouble him.
“The play really kept me up thinking about, how did I miss that and what I got confused on,” Brown said, refraining from detailing the play to perhaps keep the possibility alive for its revival this time around.
In that previous Super Bowl, Brown performed admirably, registering six receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown. This level of performance is typical for Brown, who battled injuries that sidelined him for four games this season. He still managed to accumulate 67 catches and led the team with 1,079 receiving yards, marking the third consecutive year he surpassed the 1,000-yard milestone with the Eagles and the fifth time in six NFL seasons.
“A.J. is the best receiver that this city has ever seen,” remarked Eagles coach Nick Sirianni.
Brown was granted a three-year contract extension last April, which saw him secure $84 million in guaranteed earnings. Initially, his contract positioned him as the highest-paid wide receiver at $32 million annually, until Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson surpassed him later in the summer, potentially allowing him to earn up to $96 million over the contract’s duration.
Despite his high salary, Brown remarked that during the Super Bowl, he felt more like a “paid actor.” He conveyed a desire for a streamlined approach to the Super Bowl week, suggesting that the Eagles should arrive in New Orleans on Friday, hold a walkthrough on Saturday, and hit the field for the game on Sunday. For him, last year’s Super Bowl felt more like a scripted performance than the real preparations typical of a regular-season game.
“It’s about us, but it’s not about us,” Brown noted. “We have so much to do for everyone else — the media, the fans. Our focus on what’s truly important, which is the game, is limited.”
When it comes to receiving talent, the Eagles have a notable advantage over the Chiefs, making Brown the standout of the group.
DeVonta Smith, who surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in the previous two seasons, also faced injuries but still led the Eagles with 68 catches totaling 833 yards. Tight end Dallas Goedert and even 2,000-yard rusher Saquon Barkley consistently pose threats as well.
“They take pride in their catching ability. They take pride in their route-running,” Sirianni stated. “They take pride in creating game-changing opportunities with the ball and in their blocking to support teammates.”
Meanwhile, the Chiefs feature tight end Travis Kelce, a performer who may have lost a step but still managed 97 catches during the regular season. However, their top receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Juju Smith-Schuster went without a catch in a playoff win against the Texans.
Brown mentioned that he’s been declining media requests due to the overwhelming Super Bowl hype, asserting that “none of this stuff matters.”
Ultimately, all he truly desires is to secure that coveted championship ring — much like LeBron.
