Why Titans' Mike Vrabel texted Eagles' A.J. Brown ahead of Super Bowl

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel texted Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown before Brown faces the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII this Sunday. 

"Coach Vrabel reached out to me," Brown told reporters, per Jim Wyatt of the Titans' website. "I have no hard feelings for nobody in Tennessee. There's nothing but love, and they are still showing me love, too. Of course, I wish the organization well. I have teammates and friends on that team, you know, so I want them to succeed."

Brown featured for the Titans from 2019 through the 2021 campaign. Both Vrabel and then-Tennessee general manager Jon Robinson heavily suggested last April that Brown wasn't going anywhere ahead of the start of this season, but the Titans traded the 25-year-old to the Eagles on the opening night of the NFL Draft. Brown then signed a four-year extension with Philadelphia that could be worth up to $100 million.

Meanwhile, the Titans fired Robinson this past December. 

The trade worked out quite well for Brown. Per ESPN stats, he finished the 2022 regular season fourth among all players with 1,496 receiving yards, tied for third with 11 touchdown catches and 13th with 88 receptions. He's now one win away from hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Brown indicated he regretted some of his social media activities from after the trade and insisted he has "love for Tennessee" and the club's fan base regardless of what occurred last spring. 

"I put in a lot of time with these guys," Vrabel said about his text message to his former player. "If you do it the right way, you can still have a relationship after they are on someone else's team. A.J. and I spent a lot of time together and shared a lot of personal conversations. Of course, I wish the best for him."