384 career receptions. 6,066 receiving yards. 43 touchdowns.
These are the impeccable stats of NFL wide receiver A.J. Brown. His admirable speed and route running is something the Philadelphia Eagles have celebrated since 2022 from a monumental trade in the 2022 NFL Draft. But his story dives deeper than the 67-yard catch he caught in the Eagles’ international season opener against the Green Bay Packers.
Brown was picked up by the Tennessee Titans in 2019, and just a year later, his story in the NFL was that of mental and physical pain.
In November 2021, Brown posted a brief video on Instagram revealing he suffers from depression.
“I’m kind of nervous even saying this, but a year ago from today, I thought about taking my own life,” Brown said. “I had no more hope of better days, and everything was just going wrong for me,”
Brown’s 2020 season was a Pro Bowl season. Missing only two games early because of injuries, he broke records on the Titans. Despite the career and team records, Brown had a lot of physical problems where he was on the injury report for all 16 games.
All of this, of course, playing out in the public eye.
His depression, on the other hand, was something he did not come outright with. Thanks to leaning on his support system and putting faith in God, Brown was able to get through the darkest days.
“The reason why I’m sharing this message today to you is I’m still here,” Brown continued. “I’m still going. I’m still smiling. I’ve got a lot of things to be grateful for. I just want to encourage everyone to protect your mental [health]. Talk to someone. Get things off your chest. Do things that make you happy,”
Now, Brown gives back to the community of athletes like him to continue pushing for a brighter future. The AJ Brown Foundation was born out of a commitment to “create a pathway for success that fosters resilience, confidence, and a brighter future for our youth today.”
The foundation was recently started and already helped those in the Greater Philadelphia area. In December 2023, the Foundation organized a Christmas shopping event at Target in Mount Laurel.
The AJ Brown Foundation, headed by Brown and a team of incredible people, continue to plan on giving back to the community as Brown knows the importance of community support all too well.
For more information about the AJ Brown Foundation, click here.
First & Jenn 
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