A. J. Brown

Brown married former college softball player Kelsey Riley on May 16, 2026. The couple shares a son born in 2022. He also has a daughter from a previous relationship. He made former teammate Jalen Hurts his daughter's godfather. In 2026, NBA player Jaylen Brown revealed the two are second cousins.

Brown is a devout Christian. He routinely wears a cross during games. In 2021, he shared a video discussing his struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts during the 2020 season. Reaching out to college teammate Elijah Moore helped him navigate those difficulties. He has since spoken openly to encourage others to seek mental health support.

Brown grew up in Starkville, Mississippi, attending Starkville High School. As a senior, he caught 83 passes for 1,371 yards and 13 touchdowns to win a 6A state championship. He excelled at two sports. Following high school, he became only the second athlete to play in both the Under Armour All-America football and baseball games.

The San Diego Padres picked him as an outfielder in the 19th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He signed with the Padres. That contract prevented him from playing college baseball at the University of Mississippi, though he remained eligible for college football. He took part in extended spring training after his first two collegiate years.

At Ole Miss, Brown set school records during his 2017 sophomore season with 75 catches, 1,252 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns, earning the Conerly Trophy as the top college player in Mississippi. In 2018, playing opposite DK Metcalf, he led the SEC again with 85 catches for 1,320 yards. He finished his three-year Rebels career with 2,984 receiving yards and twelve 100-yard performances before declaring for the NFL draft.

The Tennessee Titans drafted Brown in the second round with the 51st overall pick in 2019. He made an immediate impression. In his professional debut against the Cleveland Browns, he posted 100 receiving yards on three catches. He finished his rookie season leading all first-year players with 1,051 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

In 2020, Brown recorded 70 receptions for 1,075 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. Against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12, he caught a 69-yard touchdown and returned an onside kick 42 yards for another score. Knee surgeries followed in January 2021. Despite missing games due to a chest injury in 2021, he posted 142 receiving yards in the Divisional Round playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

On April 28, 2022, Tennessee traded Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 18th overall pick. He promptly signed a four-year, $100 million contract extension. His impact was immediate. In his Philadelphia debut against the Detroit Lions, he tallied 155 receiving yards, setting a franchise single-game debut record. He finished 2022 with 1,496 receiving yards, breaking Mike Quick's 1983 single-season club mark. In Super Bowl LVII, he caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

From Week 3 through Week 8 in 2023, Brown recorded at least 125 receiving yards in six straight games. That set an NFL record. He finished the season with a career-high 106 receptions for 1,456 yards. In 2024, Brown caught a 12-yard touchdown in Super Bowl LIX as the Eagles defeated Kansas City 40-22. By 2025, he became the first receiver in Eagles history to post four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

On June 1, 2026, Philadelphia traded Brown to the New England Patriots for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick and a 2028 first-round pick. The trade reunited him with head coach Mike Vrabel. Vrabel had previously coached him in Tennessee.

Brown joined New England's offense alongside second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Entering his eighth NFL season, he had totaled over 8,000 receiving yards, 56 touchdowns, and three second-team All-Pro honors.