Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, AJ Brown get into heated shouting match on sidelines during playoff game vs. 49ers

Nick Sirianni and AJ Brown had to be separated after a shouting match in the first half on Sunday afternoon.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni reacts during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and wide receiver A.J. Brown had to be separated after a brief incident on the sidelines on Sunday afternoon. (AP/Chris Szagola)
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nick Sirianni and AJ Brown got into it on the sidelines on Sunday.

The Philadelphia Eagles head coach was seen sprinting down the sidelines at Lincoln Financial Field to confront his star wide receiver in the first half of their playoff game with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon. Sirianni was screaming at Brown, appearing to try and get him off the field. But Brown then got into Sirianni’s face to respond.

Others eventually had to step in and pull him back.

Fox analyst Tom Brady discussed the moment in real time, and insisted that Brown and Sirianni “have a great relationship.”

“Emotions, they run high–especially in the playoffs,” Sirianni told Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews at halftime. “Of course, after this game, we’ll go back to loving each other. But look, this is just the way it is. We’re just fine, thanks.”

It’s unclear what exactly the two were fighting about, but the quick incident came after Brown missed a pair of deep catches on the Eagles’ final drive of the first half. Brown entered the locker room with three catches for 25 yards at the break. 

The altercation was nearly exactly a year after Brown was spotted reading from a printed book — “Inner Excellence” by Jim Murphy — during a playoff game last season. 

Brown had 1,003 receiving yards this season, his seventh in the league, in what was his fourth straight campaign with at least 1,000 yards. He had seven touchdowns on 78 catches, too, and helped the Eagles win the NFC East for a second straight season after their Super Bowl win last year. 

Brown and the Eagles entered halftime with a 13-10 lead over the 49ers. 

This post will be updated with more information shortly.

Category: General Sports