The story of the Philadelphia Eagles' title-defense season was the tension between A.J. Brown and the rest of the offense over his role, with Brown making it no secret that he believed he deserved more targets.
When those targets came in Sunday's wild-card playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, however, results did not follow. Brown finished with only 25 yards in a season-ending 23-19 loss, and he had three major drops that defined an up-and-down day for the Eagles' offense.
The Eagles resisted trading Brown before the deadline as they clung to hope of a Super Bowl repeat, but the veteran's future could be an immediate storyline once the offseason is in full swing.
Here's a closer look at Brown's drops on Sunday and his future in Philadelphia.
MORE: What is Nick Sirianni's playoff record?
A.J. Brown drops vs. 49ers
Brown hauled in only three of his seven targets in the loss on Sunday, and three of his four incompletions were tough to swallow.
The drop that will linger in the heads of Eagles fans is this whiff on third down on the Eagles' final drive of the game. Brown got himself open and had no competition on the pass from Hurts, but he simply couldn't come up with it, bringing up fourth-and-5.
The Eagles converted on fourth-and-5, taking some of the blame off Brown, but the drive would fizzle out in 49ers territory, giving San Francisco the win.
A critical drop from AJ Brown on third down... Pic.twitter.com/3YAwkprWO2
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) January 12, 2026
In the first half, Brown had two drops that drew ire from Eagles fans, including this one that Brown believed should have been enough to draw a penalty.
Tons of hand fighting with AJ Brown and the Niners and the refs don't flag it pic.twitter.com/iWfTsQStyX
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) January 11, 2026
After one drop in the second quarter, Brown took his time getting off the field and got into a tense exchange with coach Nick Sirianni as Sirianni tried to hurry Brown back to the sideline.
Nick Sirianni and A.J. Brown with a heated exchange on the sidelines.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 11, 2026
(📺 FOX) pic.twitter.com/vDlLkM8uzu
While Sirianni downplayed the interaction when he spoke with the Fox broadcast at halftime, the moment was yet another sign of discord between Brown and the Eagles in what was an awkward season from start to finish.
Postgame, Sirianni said he and Brown have a "special relationship."
"I have a special relationship with him. We've probably went through every emotion you can possibly have together.... That happens in this game, but I love him."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 12, 2026
-Nick Sirianni on his exchange with A.J. Brown pic.twitter.com/GGWXfUsO2z
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A.J. Brown stats vs. 49ers
- Targets: 7
- Catches: 3
- Yards: 25
- TD: 0
- Y/R: 8.3
Brown was not a major factor in the Eagles' season-ending loss to the 49ers, hauling in only three catches for 25 yards on seven targets. DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert each finished with more yards through the air, while Saquon Barkley matched Brown's 25 yards even as he handled 26 carries on the ground.
Brown similarly combined for only 24 yards in the Eagles' first two playoff games last season, but Philadelphia survived long enough for Brown to score in NFC championship and Super Bowl wins.
MORE: Dallas Goedert scores twice vs. 49ers
Will A.J. Brown be traded?
The Eagles resisted trading Brown during the 2025 season, even as signs of discontent became evident. The reason was likely simple: as much as he might be a distraction at times, Brown was an essential piece of a team that believed it could win another Super Bowl.
With a full offseason to reset, could the Eagles change their approach? There is no indication Brown has ever formally requested a trade out of Philadelphia, but with the rest of the roster gradually becoming more expensive and the Eagles proving in 2025 that they weren't the team they were a year earlier, a fresh start for both sides could very well be on the table.