Hurts agrees that he, Brown grew apart: 'Clearly'

After he was traded to the New England Patriots in June, wide receiver A.J. Brown said in an interview that he and Jalen Hurts weren't as close as they once were last season with the Philadelphia Eagles. Hurts, in an interview with GQ magazine published Tuesday, confirmed the accuracy of Brown's sentiment, but not without being pressed for an answer. "There's no surprise that it was talked about," Hurts told GQ when asked if he and Brown had grown apart. He then was asked again to answer whether the two had grown apart. "I mean, clearly," he told GQ. @JalenHurts opens up about AJ Brown being traded from the Eagles, and the scrutiny that followed. — GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) September 1, 2026 For GQ's first episode of One More Question, the quarterback sits down with host @ZachBaron in Philadelphia for a candid, sprawling, occasionally "weird," and wildly captivating... pic.twitter.com/LOvaliHYJF Brown was asked in June by NBC Sports' Maria Taylor on the "7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony" podcast about his relationship with Hurts in his final season with the Eagles. "Nothing happened, people just grow apart," Brown told Taylor. "Nothing happened between me and him, or our families, wives, anything. Nothing like that ever happened. 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." Last month when the Eagles and Patriots took part in joint practices in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Brown told reporters that he and Hurts had not spoken since the trade. The two former teammates were seen catching up together, however, the next day at the second of two practices between the teams. Hurts and Brown have a long history together, dating back to when Hurts hosted Brown on a recruiting trip when he was at Alabama. They would work out together in the offseason and grew so tight that Hurts became godfather to Brown's daughter, Jersee. They teamed up for four fruitful seasons in Philadelphia that included back-to-back seasons of 1,400-plus receiving yards for Brown plus a Super Bowl championship after the 2024 season. Brown, however, expressed his desire for a change of scenery with the Eagles' front office following a frustration-filled 2024 season, general manager Howie Roseman conveyed at the time. Sources told ESPN's Tim McManus that Hurts was a factor in the receiver's frustrations, based in part on Brown not being targeted as much as he felt he should be against zone coverage. Brown let his unhappiness with his role in the offense be known on social media and in interviews during a 2025 season in which he posted 1,003 receiving yards -- his lowest total in four seasons with the Eagles -- and eventually got his wish to be traded. "Honestly guys, none of that stuff even matters, man. You all should want to report something positive. You know asking the question is going to turn negative," Brown said after the first joint practice last month. Hurts echoed Brown's sentiment last month, saying "I've got a lot of love for him and always have."