In April, shortly after the Philadelphia Eagles’ trade for receiver A.J. Brown shocked the N.F.L., quarterback Jalen Hurts posted to social media a video of his FaceTime call with his newest target.
Before the trade, Brown had been trying to work out a contract extension with the Tennessee Titans, who drafted him in the second round just three years earlier. He said he had “mixed emotions” about being sent to Philadelphia. But when Hurts’s face popped up on his phone, his emotions turned to excitement. “Let’s do it, man,” Brown said with a huge grin.
“To be here at the Super Bowl, I guess you can say it all worked out,” Brown said last week.
Brown’s connection with Hurts is a big reason the Eagles are playing in today’s game. The two have said they are best friends, dating back to when Hurts hosted Brown on a recruiting visit to the University of Alabama. Brown chose to play for Mississippi, and Hurts eventually transferred to Oklahoma, but he and Hurts got to play together after the Eagles sent first- and third-round picks to the Titans during the 2022 N.F.L. draft.
In his first season in Philadelphia, Brown set a team record with 1,496 receiving yards during the regular season. He also scored 11 touchdowns, tied for third most in the league. Brown is a physical receiver and a big-play threat, and he has been an ideal complement to DeVonta Smith, who also had a 1,000-yard season.
“Our friendship made everything easier,” Brown said of his connection with Hurts. “We have two guys who have similar mind-sets, who want to be great and just put in the work. It was no ego between me and him, so we just hold each other accountable. I think that’s probably the main reason why it happened so fast.”
