WATCH: All-time Ole Miss great AJ Brown pours into ‘forever home’ with foundation
All-time Ole Miss football great AJ Brown is too blessed to be stressed.
Brown, on Thursday, became the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history, coming to terms with his Philadelphia Eagles on a new, three-year, $96 million-dollar extension.
Brown’s now locked in through 2029 on his third contract. His total guarantees of $84 million are also the highest ever.
“My father just taught me to never run from my problems (and) face them head-on,” Brown exclusively told the Ole Miss Spirit while in Oxford earlier this month. “That’s what I did when I was here at Ole Miss, and it taught me a valuable lesson in life. I’m glad I didn’t leave. I never really even had the thought to leave.
“This is home. This will forever be home, and I’m proud to say this is my home.”
Brown is a three-time Pro Bowler and former second-round draft selection of the Tennessee Titans in 2019.
He’s entering his sixth NFL season and third with the Eagles after being traded. Philadelphia traded first and third-round picks to Tennessee for Brown and immediately signed him to a four-year, $100 million-dollar deal.
But Brown’s reach goes far beyond the football field.
He returned to Ole Miss for the rebranded ‘Grove Bowl Games’ two weeks ago to launch the AJ Brown Foundation, an avenue for Brown to fulfill a passion he’s had since childhood of giving back to youth in his old stomping grounds of Oxford, Philadelphia and Starkville.
“It means a lot just to be able to come back home and shed light on my home from home, Ole Miss, and to launch my foundation,” Brown said. “It’s based on mentorship. That’s what it’s about — me being in the spotlight and coming back home and inspiring these kids to achieve whatever they want to achieve in life.
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“If I can help do that, most definitely, you can sign me up for it.”
Brown broke a 38-year Eagles record for single-season receiving yards in his debut season.
He did so again a year later. He also created a new single-season-best mark for receptions.
Brown, back in October, became the first player in NFL history with 125 receiving yards or more in six straight games. The record was previously held by NFL Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson.
Brown was an All-American and Biletnikoff Award semifinalist at Ole Miss, where he had the most-ever 100-yard receiving games by a Rebel (12). He finished third in career receptions (189) and fifth in receiving touchdowns (19).
He’s the only Ole Miss receiver on record with 60 or more receptions in back-to-back seasons.
“(Ole Miss) had a really good season last year,” Brown said. “Two games I wish we could have got back, but I’m excited. Lane Kiffin’s been doing a great job with the program. I’m excited to see where he takes them.”
And who can forget Brown’s Egg Bowl night becoming the ‘Mayor of Starkville,’ which still brings a smile to his face this very day.
“It still feels the same,” he said with a laugh.
New episodes of the ‘Ivey League’ release each week, on Thursdays. Fifth-year Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin took his turn this week. Next up is star Rebel wide receiver Tre Harris.
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