Tensions began to spill over on the Philadelphia Eagles sideline during the Super Bowl champions’ showdown with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon.
Wide receiver AJ Brown lost his cool and squared up to his head coach, Nick Sirianni, after Sirianni appeared to berate the star for not being quick enough to get off the field.
Brown had just failed to make two deep passes from his quartback Jalen Hurts, with the Eagles holding a three-point lead at the time.
Both men were quickly pulled apart before anything worse occurred but it was not a great look for the team in the middle of gripping must-win game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Brown removed his helmet and carried on calling out towards Sirianni before eventually taking his seat on the bench, looking visibly frustrated.
Tom Brady called the exchange, live on Fox, and said: ‘Frustration mounts… a little colorful with his star wideout. They have a great relationship, it is two great competitors in the heat of the moment.
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown lost his cool and squared up to Nick Sirianni
Eagles head coach and the star wide receiver were quickly split up before things escalated
‘They know how much they care for one another. Who knows, maybe a little bit of accountability sparks AJ to life as well.’
Speaking to Erin Andrews on the sideline moments before the second half started, Sirianni echoed Brady’s thoughts and downplayed the incident.
Andrews said Sirianni told her that emotions were running high but that the pair were ‘fine’ and will ‘go back to loving each other’.
Brown, 28, is widely considered a key man for the Eagles but has endured an inconsistent season in 2025.
He finished with under 50 receiving yards in six of the first nine games for the Eagles this season before his role returned to the level of involvement that he is usually associated with.
In November, Brown’s frustration had grown so much he told fantasy football players to drop him.
In a live stream with popular video gamer Janky Rondo, Brown was asked if he was doing well.
‘No. Where have you been?’ Brown replied. ‘Family’s good. Everything else, no. It’s a s***-show. If you got me on fantasy, get rid of me.’
Brown has been with the Eagles since 2021, when Philadelphia traded for him from the Tennessee Titans.