Emotions seemingly boiled over for Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and wide receiver A.J. Brown during their 23-19 Wild Card loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, January 11.
The two appeared to have a heated exchange as the broadcast was headed to commercial in the waning moments of the first half. Sirianni, 44, was seen sprinting down the sideline, apparently trying to get Brown, 28, off the field. When Brown got in his coach’s face to respond, the two had to be physically separated.
As it all played out, Fox analyst Tom Brady pointed out that the two actually have a close bond and that emotions can run wild “in the heat of the moment.”
Sirianni echoed those comments in his halftime on-air interview with Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews.
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“Emotions, they run high — especially in the playoffs,” he said. “Of course, after this game, we’ll go back to loving each other. But look, this is just the way it is. We’re just fine, thanks.”
He added after the game, “I was trying to get him off the field because we were about to punt. That was really it. I love A.J. and I think he knows how I feel about him. I have a special relationship with him. We’ve probably went through every emotion you can possibly have together. We’ve laughed together, we’ve cried together, we’ve yelled at each other… That happens in this game, but I love him.”
Brown, for his part, declined to speak to reporters after the game. He also dropped a crucial pass in the final minutes with his team trying to put together the game-winning drive.
Brown has been the target of criticism already this year thanks to his seeming willingness to publicly address his frustrations with the team. After a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in September, Brown took to X, where he posted a line from the New Testament.
“If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw,” he wrote. “Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”
Fans interpreted the comment as Brown complaining about not being featured enough in the Eagles’ offense.
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Days later, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce chastised Brown on his “New Heights” podcast for his post.
“You’re 4-0, boss,” Kelce, 36, said at the time. “Come on, man.”
Travis’ brother, Jason Kelce, defended Brown.
“I don’t think that it’s unfathomable that a player of A.J. Brown’s caliber — I think that he should be upset that he’s not being utilized in this offense,” said Jason, 38. “I think that is a normal feeling, and I think he should feel comfortable explicitly saying that to the players and coaches within that locker room. I do. I don’t think that’s a dick move, a selfish move. A.J. knows the level of player he is and what he can do to offenses.”
Brown was also criticized during the Wild Card round of the 2025 playoffs when he was seen reading a book on the sidelines in the second half of the Eagles’ game against the Green Bay Packers. To that point, Brown had just one catch and three targets, leaving some to assume it was a show of frustration.
“I wasn’t frustrated at all. I figured that’s what y’all probably thought,” Brown told reporters after Philadelphia’s 22-10 win. “Why do you always think I be frustrated? Dang. I like to read.”
The book, “Inner Excellence” by Jim Murphy, is one that Brown said he brings to every game — that just happened to be the first time cameras caught him with it on the sidelines.
“I use it to refocus and lock in despite what may transpire in the game good or bad,” he wrote via X. “People tend to create controversy when they don’t know the truth.”
