Nick Sirianni and A.J. Brown are separated by Dom DiSandro during Sunday's Wild Card loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
One of the lasting memories of the Eagles' 23-19 season-ending loss to the San Francisco 49ers Sunday will be a heated second-quarter sideline exchange between A.J. Brown and Nick Sirianni.
There's no indication things would have escalated beyond words, but chief security officer Dom DiSandro did step in between the two to try to cool things down:
Here’s a longer look at Nick Sirianni’s sideline exchange with A.J. Brown, via @NFLonFOX: pic.twitter.com/9yTwPk0Wap
After a game that also saw him drop three passes, Brown declined to speak to reporters. So among other questions pertaining to Brown, we don't know what his take on the situation with Sirianni was.
In his postgame press conference, Sirianni attempted to diffuse things.
"I was trying to get him off the field because we were about to punt, and that was really it," Sirianni said.
"I love A.J.," Sirianni continued. "I think he knows how I feel about him. I have a special relationship with him. We've probably gone through every emotion you can possibly have together. We've laughed together ... we've cried together ... we've yelled at each other ... you know, we're both emotional. I was trying to get him off the field. That happens in this game, but I love him."
Sirianni's explanation is probably accurate, as is his love for and journey with Brown over these past four seasons. But Brown's relationship with Sirianni, Jalen Hurts and the organization was a storyline that lingered throughout the 2025 season, to the point where the star wide receiver pledged in a mid-November meeting with owner Jeffrey Lurie to "tone it down" with social media posts that most interpreted to be subliminal shots at the offense. Even if the Eagles replace Kevin Patullo at offensive coordinator next season, it is fair to wonder whether Brown and the organization can co-exist moving forward.
