In Philadelphia, Nick Sirianni celebrated the Eagles’ victory in Super Bowl LIX with a heartfelt nod towards his standout wide receiver, A.J. Brown. After the game, which saw the Eagles trounce the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22, Sirianni donned Brown’s high school football jersey during the press conference.
This choice was particularly eye-catching as there had been a heated sideline exchange between the coach and player during the game. A.J. Brown, from Starkville, Mississippi, had a stellar high school career with the Starkville Yellowjackets, racking up an impressive 52 receptions for 1,019 yards and 16 touchdowns in his senior year. The following year, he led his team to a state championship, tallying 83 catches for 1,371 yards and 13 touchdowns and earning a First-Team All-State honor.
Brown’s talent was not limited to football; he also excelled in baseball. He participated in the prestigious Under Armour All-America Baseball Game and, alongside Kyler Murray, stood out as one of the only athletes to compete in both Under Armour’s baseball and football invitationals.
After his time at Starkville, Brown chose to attend Ole Miss, where he continued to shine with two All-SEC selections. This success caught the eye of the Tennessee Titans, who drafted him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. However, A.J. Brown truly blossomed as a premier wide receiver with the Philadelphia Eagles after being traded there, becoming a significant part of their $100 million investment in him.
In Super Bowl LIX, Brown showcased his skills with a 12-yard touchdown catch from Jalen Hurts, helping the Eagles take a commanding 23-0 lead. He finished the game with 43 receiving yards and concluded the season, including playoffs, with 9 touchdowns.
On the other side, Nick Sirianni, the mastermind behind the Eagles’ successful season, has a rich football history of his own. He played high school football at Southwestern Central, where his father served as a coach. Sirianni also played as a wide receiver for the Mount Union Purple Raiders, contributing to three NCAA Division III National Championship teams.
Interestingly, Sirianni’s NFL coaching journey began as an offensive quality control coach for the Chiefs in 2009. He also held coaching positions with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers and the Indianapolis Colts before taking the helm of the Eagles in 2021.
With both Brown and Sirianni shaping the Eagles’ championship run, Philadelphia fans have much to look forward to in the seasons ahead.
