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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown marked his reported move to the New England Patriots with a tribute to one of the franchise's most iconic figures, Tom Brady. Following reports that Brown had been traded to New England on June 1, the 28 year old shared a pair of childhood photos on Instagram showing himself wearing Brady's famous No. 12 Patriots jersey.
The post featured no caption, allowing the images to tell the story. However, rather than simply celebrating Brown's apparent excitement about joining the Patriots, the photos quickly sparked debate among fans. Many questioned whether the images were authentic, pointing to details that appeared historically inaccurate.
Some users noted that the jersey displayed a Nike logo, even though Nike was not the NFL's official apparel supplier during Brown's childhood. Others highlighted the Patriots wordmark visible on the jersey, claiming it resembled a design that the team did not adopt until 2013. These observations led to speculation that the images may have been created or altered using artificial intelligence.
The discussion intensified after Instagram attached a label to the post indicating that it "may have been created with AI." Despite the questions surrounding the photos, the post attracted attention from Brady himself. The seven time Super Bowl champion responded with several heart emojis, seemingly acknowledging Brown's tribute.
Fans of the Eagles were quick to react in the comments section. While some congratulated Brown on his new chapter, others expressed disappointment over his departure from Philadelphia. One supporter joked that Brown wasted no time sharing Patriots themed content, while another admitted feeling frustrated by the news. Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean also left a heart emoji in response to the post.
Brown further addressed the move in a lighthearted way through a sponsored social media post with moving services company Angi. In the post, he jokingly released an "official statement" suggesting the company would help him relocate from Philadelphia to his new home in New England.
The reported trade comes shortly after speculation emerged about Brown's relationship with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Rumors surfaced when Hurts did not attend Brown's wedding in May. Hurts later dismissed concerns, stating that their friendship remained strong and that he was happy for Brown and his family following the wedding celebrations.
