“My Grandpa Just Told Me”: Jaylen Brown Stunned to Learn Patriots Superstar Is His Cousin

Guard Jaylen Brown is having a very eventful offseason, from being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers to finding out his cousin is an NFL champion! The former Boston Celtics guard was surprised to learn that he has family in the NFL. What's more, he is not certain if the NFL Star knows about the relationship either.

Brown is reportedly related to New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown. During a recent interview, he mentioned how he had only just found out about his relationship to A.J. through his grandfather.

"What's crazy is that we're cousins, A.J. Brown," Jaylen said. "Yeah, I didn't know that. My grandpa just told me. I don't think (A.J.) knows that either. His grandfather is brothers with my grandfather. Crazy."

The Brown family's athletic ability now spans two major sports.

A.J. Brown won the 2024-25 Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs. He is also a three-time Pro Bowl All-Star and has three Second-Team All-Pro selections. A.J. was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft.

Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown was drafted three years before A.J. by the Celtics in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft.

The Georgia native has accolades similar to his cousin's in the NBA. JB is a one-time NBA champion, one-time NBA Finals MVP, one-time NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP, five-time All-Star, and has two All-NBA Second Team selections.

Yet even All-Star credentials couldn't shield him from Boston's trade block. Brown was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Paul George and several draft picks.

Celtics Treated Jaylen Brown Differently Than Jayson Tatum

Before Jaylen Brown was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, many teams were inquiring about Jayson Tatum. However, as NBA insider Shams Charania reported, the Boston Celtics remained firm on keeping Tatum.

"Over the last three, four weeks, while this Jaylen Brown stuff was going on, teams were calling the Celtics on Jayson Tatum. Their answer was hard stop: 'No, we're not trading Jayson Tatum. He's untouchable. He's not on the table.'"

But because of these inquiries, it pushed the Celtics to test Brown's trade marketability, per Charania.

"Jaylen Brown, different story. Open for business. Ready to trade him. 'Give us your best offer.' So that's the dichotomy of both of those situations. Just so we know from a reporting perspective, like they treated Jaylen Brown different than they treated Jayson Tatum."

Brown admitted that his biggest challenge heading into the 2026-27 season is adjusting to playing for the Sixers.

“I got no idea what it’s going to feel like. It’s probably going to feel a little weird. It’s still weird now. My brain is like, Philly? Of all places… like why you would do that?”

JB is set to share the hardwood with his new co-stars, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. If Embiid can remain healthy next season, there's no denying that the new Sixers trio will pose a threat. Not only do the Sixers have three All-Stars, but two of them are also MVP-caliber players. The Sixers may have a legitimate shot at the title.