Former Tennessee Titans General Manager Jon Robinson admits he would undo the A.J. Brown trade if given the chance.
Former Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson has finally opened up about one of the most scrutinized decisions of his tenure — the trade that sent star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles. In a rare moment of reflection and honesty, Robinson admitted that if he had the chance to do it all over again, he wouldn’t have pulled the trigger on the blockbuster move that shocked the NFL and reshaped both franchises. His candid revelation has reignited debates throughout the league, especially among Titans fans who watched their offense struggle in the aftermath of Brown’s departure.
When the Titans traded A.J. Brown during the 2022 NFL Draft, it sent shockwaves through the football world. Brown was not just a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver — he was the heartbeat of Tennessee’s passing game, a physical specimen with game-breaking ability and a fan favorite in Nashville. The deal, which sent Brown to the Eagles in exchange for a first-round pick that ultimately became Treylon Burks, was seen by many as a cost-saving measure and a gamble on youth over proven production.
At the time, the organization attempted to justify the trade as a strategic move. Brown was entering the final year of his rookie deal and seeking a lucrative contract extension. The Titans, working under financial constraints and a team philosophy that emphasized defense and the running game, decided to part ways rather than meet his demands. Robinson stood by the decision publicly, even as the criticism mounted. But now, years removed from the trade and no longer in the Titans’ front office, Robinson has admitted the truth: it was a mistake.
Speaking in a recent interview, Robinson didn’t mince words. “If I had a mulligan, I’d take it,” he said. “Looking back, there are always decisions you wish you could revisit, and that one is right at the top of the list. A.J. was special — as a player, as a teammate, and as a leader. I miscalculated, plain and simple.”
That miscalculation had massive consequences. In his first season with the Eagles, Brown helped transform their offense into one of the most explosive units in the NFL. He quickly built chemistry with quarterback Jalen Hurts and posted career-best numbers, finishing the 2022 season with 1,496 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. His presence opened up the field for the Eagles’ other playmakers and helped guide them to Super Bowl LVII.
Meanwhile, the Titans’ offense faltered. Treylon Burks, while talented, struggled with injuries and consistency during his rookie year. Without a true WR1, the team’s passing game lacked rhythm and explosiveness. Ryan Tannehill found it harder to sustain drives, and Derrick Henry, though still dominant at times, faced increasingly stacked boxes without the threat of Brown stretching defenses. The Titans, a playoff team in the years prior, missed the postseason and looked like a franchise in transition rather than one in contention.
Robinson’s admission now brings an added layer of complexity to his legacy in Tennessee. Hired in 2016, he helped transform the Titans from perennial underachievers into a tough, physical, playoff-caliber team. He drafted foundational pieces like Derrick Henry, Kevin Byard, and Jeffery Simmons, and orchestrated the trade that brought Tannehill to Nashville. Under his watch, the Titans made four straight playoff appearances and reached the AFC Championship Game in 2019.
But the A.J. Brown trade, combined with other roster missteps, led to Robinson’s dismissal in December 2022. The move was abrupt, especially given the Titans’ competitive record, but insiders pointed to increasing tension within the organization and a sense that the team had plateaued. The Brown trade was the tipping point — not just because of its impact on the field, but because it symbolized a disconnect between the front office and the franchise’s core identity.
For Titans fans, Robinson’s admission is both validating and frustrating. Many were outraged when the trade occurred and saw it as a betrayal of the team’s winning foundation. Brown had publicly expressed a desire to stay in Tennessee, though negotiations reportedly broke down over guarantees and incentives. The lack of transparency and the immediate downturn in offensive production only deepened the fan base’s discontent.
Now, with the benefit of hindsight, Robinson’s comments feel like a long-awaited acknowledgment of what many already believed. They also serve as a cautionary tale about the risks of undervaluing homegrown talent, particularly at a time when elite wide receivers have never been more important to NFL success. The days of building an offense solely around a bruising running back and a play-action passing game are waning. Brown’s ascension in Philadelphia is proof that a dominant receiver can elevate an entire team.
The ramifications of the trade have also been felt beyond Tennessee. For the Eagles, it was a masterstroke. General manager Howie Roseman was aggressive in his pursuit of Brown and immediately signed him to a four-year, \$100 million extension. The deal has paid off handsomely. Brown’s impact on Hurts’ development, the offensive scheme, and the locker room culture cannot be overstated. The Eagles are now positioned as perennial contenders, and Brown is viewed as one of the league’s elite pass-catchers.
It’s rare to see an NFL executive publicly admit fault in such stark terms, especially about a decision as pivotal as trading away a franchise cornerstone. Robinson’s willingness to do so shows humility, but also highlights the unforgiving nature of professional football. The line between bold and reckless is often razor-thin. GMs are tasked with balancing the long-term health of the franchise with the demands of the present. In this case, the attempt to save money and bet on youth backfired spectacularly.
That being said, not every piece of the puzzle has crumbled for the Titans. New general manager Ran Carthon and head coach Brian Callahan are working to rebuild the offense and develop young talent. Treylon Burks still has upside, and rookie wideout Jha’Quan Jackson has turned heads in camp. But the absence of a proven, game-changing receiver like A.J. Brown continues to loom large. It’s the kind of mistake that can haunt a franchise for years, especially when the player in question thrives elsewhere.
Robinson’s comments are also a reminder of how delicate the player-team relationship can be, particularly in contract negotiations. Brown felt disrespected during the process, and that lack of trust likely accelerated his exit. In today’s NFL, where player empowerment is rising and social media gives athletes a direct line to fans, how teams handle those dynamics matters more than ever. The Titans’ inability to retain one of their best homegrown stars wasn’t just a failure of negotiation — it was a breakdown in communication and vision.
As the Titans look ahead, there’s no undoing what’s already been done. A.J. Brown is thriving in Philadelphia. The team he left behind is searching for a new offensive identity and trying to recapture the spark that once made them a force in the AFC. But perhaps Robinson’s honesty will serve as a step toward healing, a moment of accountability that opens the door for growth. In the end, admitting the mistake won’t change the past — but it might help shape a better future.
What happens next for Robinson remains to be seen. Since his dismissal, he has largely stayed out of the spotlight, though he remains a respected football mind with years of front-office experience. His track record, though blemished, is far from irredeemable. But any future opportunity will come with questions about the A.J. Brown trade — questions he now appears more willing to confront head-on.
As for Titans fans, the wound of that trade is still fresh, but Robinson’s admission offers a kind of closure. It confirms what many instinctively felt in the moment: that the Titans let a star walk away, and paid the price. Brown’s brilliance in Philadelphia may serve as a painful reminder of what was lost, but Robinson’s words provide something rare in professional sports — a moment of truth from the man who made the call.
