Jalen Hurts has confirmed that his relationship with former Philadelphia Eagles teammate A.J. Brown deteriorated before Brown was traded to the New England Patriots, acknowledging that the two grew apart.
"I mean, clearly," Hurts told GQ when asked about the change in their dynamic. His comments echo those made by Brown earlier in the offseason, who stated that the rift was not due to a specific incident but rather a natural drifting apart.
"Nothing happened, people just grow apart. Nothing happened between me and him, or our families, wives, anything. Nothing like that ever happened," Brown said in June. "Life happens, and you just look up sometimes and you just, you find yourself drifting away, and that's fine. And I think both parties accepted that."
Despite the acknowledged distance, Hurts expressed continued affection for his former wide receiver. "I've got a lot of love for him and always have," Hurts said. The two were observed interacting during joint practices between the Patriots and Eagles in Massachusetts.
Brown, who holds the Eagles' top two single-season receiving yardage records, was traded to New England in June for future draft picks. The move occurred after an uneven offensive season for the Eagles and reports of Brown's frustration with his role and target share, particularly against zone coverage. Sources indicated that this frustration was partly directed at Hurts.
Brown had made several public comments and social media posts throughout the 2025 season that suggested dissatisfaction. After the Eagles' wild-card playoff elimination in January, Brown reportedly informed the Eagles' front office that he desired a change of scenery.
Brown and Hurts shared a close bond that extended beyond their time as teammates. Hurts hosted Brown on a recruiting visit to Alabama when they were in college, and their friendship deepened through offseason workouts. Hurts eventually became the godfather to Brown's daughter.
The Eagles are set to open their regular season on September 13 against the Washington Commanders, while the Patriots will begin their season on September 9 against the Seattle Seahawks.