Hollywood Brown never really connected with Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, so he's making changes in Philly.
The Kansas City Chiefs offense is a unit in transition, and thing never really worked out with the Chiefs for receiver Hollywood Brown. He’s hoping for better luck after signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, and Brown is already doing some work to help that happen, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.
Brown signed a one-year deal with the Eagles, and he’s already had conversations with quarterback Jalen Hurts. Brown wasn’t bad in Kansas City, as he caught 49 passes for 587 yards last year with five touchdowns and a 12.5 yards per catch average, but he never really succeeded the way many thought he would, so he's trying to make a big change.
“I’ve been watching Jalen play for a while,” Brown said. “Previous teammates talk highly about him, and for me watching the film on him, seeing how he’s able to make stuff happen, how composed he is, his deep ball, and just how he’s able to lead, was all attractive to me.
“For me, he’s a Super Bowl MVP, so I feel like he stacks up as a top quarterback in this league and I’m fortunate enough to be here with him and the rest of the team, and excited to come in and help.”
What’s strange about that quote is that it would be easy to apply those same descriptors to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, so it’s fair to ask what exactly went sideways in Kansas City.
Injuries definitely played a role. Brown sustained a collarbone injury that sidelined him for most of 2024 season after he signed with Kansas City, and as a result he was never really able to develop a sustainable connection with Mahomes.
After that other problems crept in. The Chiefs’ offensive system isn’t easy to learn, as it involves the ability to read defenses on the fly and make quick route adjustments. Brown was also on a one-year prove-it deal initially, and when top performance didn’t follow immediately, he became a forgotten man.
That also led to overlap issues with some of the other receivers. Brown was supposed to be the guy who could stretch the field, but when receiver Xavier Wothy was drafted out of Texas, he became that guy, and Tyquan Thornton also got some snaps in that receiving role that left Brown as the forgotten man.
Brown is hoping for a new start in Philadelphia, and while he’s looking forward to “hitting the ground running” with Hurts, he added that he’s had good talks with GM Howie Roseman and coach Nick Sirianni. Brown was added in part in case his namesake, A.J. Brown, gets traded, and if that does happen as expected he’ll get another opportunity to stay healthy and make his mark.