Hollywood Homecoming

Hollywood Brown sported a wide grin when fondly recalling his earliest NFL memory, as it drew distinct parallels to his current team.

The newly minted Eagles wide receiver, in his introductory press conference Thursday, revealed that he actually became an Eagles fan more than two decades ago – Feb. 6, 2005, to be specific – when the Eagles faced the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX.

From that point on, Brown said, he was an Eagles fan.

Brown cited franchise greats, like quarterback Donovan McNabb and running back Brian Westbrook as favorites growing up. The former Chiefs wideout also acknowledged the surreal circumstance of overlapping in Kansas City with running backs coach Todd Pinkston, who decades prior functioned as a starting wide receiver for Andy Reid’s high-flying offense.

Adding to Brown’s full-circle moment, the 28-year-old offered that he believed going into the 2019 NFL Draft that he was destined to become a Philadelphia Eagle coming out of the 2019 NFL Draft, as the team had shown notable interest in the Oklahoma speedster.

“Definitely thought I was going to be an Eagle coming out,” he said. “I remember, I told Howie [Roseman] that on the phone, ‘I though y’all was gonna draft me.’ But, like I said, everything happens for a reason. And I’m here right now, in this moment, and I’m excited for it.”

GETTY IMAGES/Perry Knotts: Eagles new WR Hollywood Brown grew up an Eagles fan and thought his career would start off in Philly.

Eight years later, Brown can finally call Philadelphia home. The Hollywood, Fla., native figures to ideally complement a receiving corps fronted by mainstays A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. His game-changing speed and dynamic attributes offer a different dimension to the passing game compared to what the Eagles previously had, which should greatly impact spacing and influence explosive plays.

When asked what made Philadelphia an appealing free-agent destination, Brown cited fit, opportunity and culture, along with a strong supporting cast of talent.

In Philadelphia, Brown becomes another big-play weapon for quarterback Jalen Hurts. While the two never shared the field together as Sooners – Hurts arrived in Norman in 2019, the year Brown was drafted by the Ravens – Brown acknowledged spending time with Hurts when he got to Oklahoma, and that they’ve spoken in the days since Brown signed with the Eagles.

And the enthusiasm Brown conveyed when Hurts’ name came up illustrated his affinity for the Eagles’ franchise quarterback.

“I’ve been watching Jalen play for a while, even previous teammates,” he said. “Everyone talks highly about him. And for me, watching the film on him, seeing how he’s able to make things happen, how composed he is, his deep ball – and how he’s able to lead – is all attractive to me.

“And for me, he’s the Super Bowl MVP. So, 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.”

Brown hasn’t quite lived up to his first-round draft status in any of his previous stops, but context is important. Injuries impeded his availability, notably dating back to the NFL Scouting Combine, where a Lisfranc injury precluded him from testing.

His 2024 season was limited to two games due to a preseason sternoclavicular injury. There’s also the offenses in which Brown played that directly contributed to a limited ceiling, specifically with the Ravens and Cardinals. It wasn’t until arriving in Kansas City that Brown found himself in a high-volume passing attack.

When asked about his past injuries, Brown called them “unfortunate,” saying the key to playing to his standard boils down to staying healthy and available.

As it pertains to those injuries, Brown says he’s “even more explosive,” and looking forward to showcasing what he can do in an offense in Philadelphia that will be presided over by first-year coordinator Sean Mannion. According to Brown, he used the setbacks as an opportunity to grow, evolving his game in different areas and showcasing all the tools in his toolbox.

“For me, I’m excited,” he said. “I’m always looking to prove myself, not always to my teammates and coaches, but to myself. I feel like I haven’t played my best ball. I feel like all that is still in front of me. So, here in Philly, I’m ready to introduce Hollywood to the city of Philadelphia. And I’m excited for the opportunity.”

In Brown, the Eagles land a player who perhaps fits the offense better than his predecessor, Jahan Dotson. He’ll be teaming up with a strong cast of surrounding talent, where pressure for Brown to deliver won’t be as heightened as it’s been previously, and a quarterback who majors in throwing an exceptional deep ball.

It’s fair to wonder what Brown’s career trajectory would have been had he been drafted to Philadelphia, but the veteran wideout isn’t wasting time on looking back or pondering hypotheticals.

“I feel like everything happens for a reason,” he said. “I wouldn’t go back and change anything; my course is my course, my story is my story. So, I’m an Eagle and the opportunity is in front of me, so I feel like I’m right where I need to be.”

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com