A.J. Brown further endears himself to Eagles fans with heartfelt message
A.J. Brown further endears himself to Eagles fans with heartfelt message
As strange as this may sound, it's sometimes hard to remember that A.J. Brown ever played for the Tennessee Titans. He's entrenched himself so much into the Philadelphia Eagles' story that, unless someone brings up the first three years of his career, every thought centers around what he has done in the City of Brotherly Love.
Two of his three Pro Bowl nods were earned with the Birds. He has been named a Second-Team All-Pro during all three seasons on Philly's roster. He's helped the Birds to Super Bowl appearances. He's caught touchdown passes in both games. Most importantly, he's now a Super Bowl Champion.
Recently, he hung out with Philadelphia's mayor. He was given a chance to share, and what he offered will no doubt further endear him to the NFL's most loyal fan base.
A.J. Brown offers a heartfelt sentiment that will further endear him to Eagles fans.
A.J. Brown may need to build another trophy case to display all of the honors he received while playing in Philadelphia. Thankfully, he won't have to do so alone.
On the first weekend of May, he proposed to his longtime girlfriend Kelsey Riley. The following Tuesday, he was honored with the first-ever "Making a Better Philly Changemaker Award."
"For me, it's just about showing the love that I have in my heart... Growing up, I always wanted someone to come back and just show us the way and lead us, but unfortunately, we didn't really have that. So, I said, 'if I make it to the NFL, or whatever I do, I'm going to give back to the community.'"
Those were the words of A.J. Brown after receiving the honor during an event held by The Philly Service Award. Philly's mayor, Cherelle Parker, served as host. A.J. shared his speech a day later on social media.
"This city made me sharper, tougher, and more focused, not just as a player but as a man, and every time I step onto that field, or into the community, I carry that Philly edge with me. You all, Philly, have adopted me, and I'm so thankful."
Nothing endears a Philly sports hero to the town they play in faster than playing with full effort and embracing the City of Brotherly Love and its citizens. Check both boxes for Number 11. While his marriage with Birds fans has sometimes seemed rocky, every test has ended with a stronger bond. This will, no doubt, propel the relationship to newer heights.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
This NFL coach and QB combination could be the most dangerous in 2025
This NFL coach and QB combination could be the most dangerous in 2025 Show Caption Hide Caption DeMarcus Ware believes Evan Engram will help Bo Nix's growth in NFL Former Broncos linebacker Evan Engram believes veteran TE Evan Engram will help Bo Nix's growth in the NFL. Sports Seriously Editor's note: This story is a part of a series by USA TODAY Sports called Project: June. We will publish at least one NFL-themed story every day throughout the month because fans know the league truly never sleeps. Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton is on the phone. His voice is slightly hoarse from a cold but the story he told comes through loud and clear. It was about quarterback Bo Nix. It went like this. They knew that Nix was a good athlete. They saw it when Nix was at Oregon. But they didn't realize how explosive he was until Nix started actually practicing and playing in the NFL. "One thing about the QB that came even as a little surprise for us," Payton told USA TODAY Sports, "was seeing some of these off-schedule throws from him, and it kind of stunned us at how good he was at that. It's because he's so fast. I don't think people get how athletic and how fast he is." Off-schedule or off-platform throws are when the quarterback makes a pass while not in a balanced or standard throwing position. Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes excels at these. Nix is getting really good at them. In fact, he's getting good at it all. He's a big reason why the Broncos' Super Bowl window is officially open now. You read that correctly. Payton is asked for a bottom-line evaluation of Nix. "I'm seeing a player who I think will continue to make big strides," said Payton. Nix last season was off to a good start. He set Broncos rookie records for passing touchdowns (29), completions (376) and passing yards (3,775). He was also the first rookie quarterback in league history to record multiple games with at least 300 passing yards, four passing scores and a passer rating of at least 140. What Payton has found in Nix is most likely another quarterback star. Payton has had this before. (More on that in a moment.) This season we could see this duo become the most dangerous coach-quarterback combo in football. It's also why that Super Bowl window is opening now. Notice, I didn't say the best coach-quarterback combo (though that could happen as well). I said the most dangerous. If anyone can unseat the current best combo right now in Andy Reid and Mahomes, with three straight Super Bowl appearances, it would be this one. Yes, the combo of Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts just beat Kansas City in the Super Bowl, but Reid-Mahomes is still the gold standard. Payton and Nix, however, just entered the chat. The Broncos were a stunning 10-7 last year in part because Nix shocked everyone. But there's a reason he did. This is what Payton does. Give him a good quarterback, he makes him really good. Give him a great quarterback, he helps make him a certain Hall of Famer. See: Brees, Drew. Brees finished his career as the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards and completions when he retired in 2021. Tom Brady would later pass him. (Brady would later pass errybody.) Brees made 13 Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl, where he was also named Super Bowl MVP. Brees once remembered how this historic pairing began. "It goes back to when he first sat me down before I ever signed with the Saints, and he started drawing up plays on the board that was a combination of his West Coast offensive background and philosophy, and the things that I did well with the San Diego Chargers," Brees said. "I remember looking at him saying, 'Oh, you guys run these concepts as well?' And he said, 'No, but I know that you ran these and you ran them very well, and we're going to build this offense around you and your strengths.' "Right away, I realized that that was such a unique approach and maybe so much different than what I expected, especially from a first-time head coach, coming into a really tough situation with high expectations." That is classic Payton. I'll always believe that Payton is the best play caller in the history of the sport. One of the best play designers. One of the best at getting his players to understand his concepts, and adapting his concepts to the player. I know this because I've seen it up and close and personal. Watched him do it. Brees will skip into the Hall of Fame and some day Payton will follow him. Now, I'm seeing the same thing in Denver. It goes beyond the obvious that Nix and Brees are similar specimens. It's Payton again morphing the offense around what Nix does best. Payton is also criminally underrated in building a good culture. He's creating Saints West. Not the Saints you see now. Or the almost comically bad Saints teams from the 1970s. It's the one that was once solid and even feared. Payton is helping his own cause by putting pieces all around Nix. The Broncos had a successful offseason signing key free agents in safety Talanoa Hufanga, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, and tight end Evan Engram. The latter will be that "joker" weapon for the Broncos who maneuvers around the formation creating mismatches. 'That is a cool thing to just embrace,' Engram said. 'Sean talks about it a lot. It was a big part of the pitch coming here. ... I definitely see that it is something that has to be earned with the way I work and the way that I learn the offense to gain the trust of Sean, Bo, and the rest of the coaches and players. I think we have a bunch of 'Jokers' on this team, honestly, that can have a great role on this offense. It is definitely something that I like to embrace, but it is also something that I am going to earn, too.' And there's a piece of data you should know. The Broncos had 134 games missed due to injuries in 2022. That number fell to 35 in 2023 and 33 last season. It shows Payton is figuring out more than just the QB situation. So, this is just your warning. Will the Broncos win the Super Bowl this year? Maybe not. Or, heck, maybe so. What's certain is the Super Bowl window for this team is officially open. Thanks primarily to Payton and Nix.
NBC Sports
2 hours ago
- NBC Sports
The Steelers' odds don't move much, if at all, post-Aaron Rodgers
The Steelers have added quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The move hasn't added much to their betting odds for 2025. At DraftKings, the Steelers have dropped from a +4500 underdog to win the Super Bowl to +4000. While that reflects some movement, it still has them as 40-1 long shots to win their seventh Lombardi Trophy. Others sports books haven't changed the Super Bowl odds at all, post-Rodgers. Via Ben Fawkes of Yahoo Sports, the Steelers' odds remain 45-1 at BetMGM. The odds haven't changed because the Rodgers move has been expected. As noted by Fawkes, the Steelers opened at 80-1 to win the Super Bowl. Even with Rodgers, the Steelers remain decidedly below elite teams like the Bills (+700), the Ravens (+700), the Chiefs (+750), and the Bengals (+2000). Even the Chargers and Broncos — both at +2500 — are viewed as significantly better bets than the Steelers to win it all. One sports book executive summarized the situation in blunt terms. 'Rodgers has been awful,' Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook V.P. of risk Ed Salmons told Fawkes. 'Before he ruptured his Achilles, his last year in Green Bay he wasn't good. Since the [Achilles] injury, he can't move — he just dumps it off so he doesn't get hit. [Mason] Rudolph and Rodgers are the same thing for me.' Most would say the two aren't the same. The question is whether, with Rodgers, the Steelers become anything more than a team that gets to the postseason and might or might not win a playoff game for the first time in nine years.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
'The Miz' reflects on celebrating with Travis Kelce at the American Century Championship
'The Miz' reflects on celebrating with Travis Kelce at the American Century Championship This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to WWE Superstar Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin about about his participation in this year's American Century Championship, which will take place July 9-13 at Edgewood Tahoe and his memorable celebration with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and brother Jason on the 17th hole of last year's tournament. "Life is all about moments. Am I right? So I get up to the 17th, which is thousands of people. There's a beautiful ocean, tons of people watching, a DJ, and everyone's having a great time. It's like one big party. It reminds me of the Phoenix Open," said Miz, "I get up there with the (Travis and Jason) Kelce's, and I get my seven iron, I put my ball on my tee, and I feel the nerves of adrenaline just rushing through me. So I almost can't even feel my club. I swing the club, hit it, and say, "Oh my God, that felt really good. I look at the ball. It's going directly towards the hole." After the impressive shot, Miz began chest-bumping Jason and the Chiefs' ten-time Pro Bowl tight end joyfully. "I'm going. I made a hole-in-one. That's no doubt in my mind. Like, didn't even, as soon as it hit, I was like, Oh, my God, I'm gonna hit a hole in one, so I start celebrating," said Miz, "Granted, it was 10 feet from the hole, but I thought it was it. I thought it was gonna make it. But, man, what a moment, what a celebration. And I think I part that hole, which I should have got a birdie, but I was so nervous on the putting course like I just watched Happy Gilmore, and I remember the first time he putted, it went, like two feet. That's basically what I did. I still got a par, so it worked out." The annual tournament awards $750,000 in prize money, much of which the celebrity players donate to local and national charities. Over the years, nearly $8 million has been donated to non-profit causes. Network television exposure on NBC, along with a first-place prize of $150,000, makes the celebrity tournament one of the most prestigious in the golf world.
