In the middle of a high-stakes playoff game, while most players are screaming at their linemen or staring intensely at a Surface tablet, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown is doing something... different. He’s sitting on the bench, helmet off, flipping through the pages of a book.
It’s a wild visual. Honestly, it looks like someone trying to get through a chapter of a thriller at a crowded airport, but the "airport" is a packed Lincoln Financial Field and the stakes are a trip to the Super Bowl. When the cameras caught him reading during the 2024-2025 postseason, the internet basically melted down. People thought he was bored. Others thought he was "quiet quitting" or showing up his quarterback, Jalen Hurts.
But the truth is way more interesting than some sideline drama.
The Book Everyone is Googling: Inner Excellence
So, what is AJ Brown reading that has everyone talking? The book is called Inner Excellence: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible Life by Jim Murphy.
It’s not just a casual read for him. Brown calls it "the recipe." He doesn't just read it at home; he brings it to the sideline of every single game. He’s been seen with a physical copy—dog-eared, highlighted, and clearly used—tucked under his arm during pre-game arrivals and resting on his lap between drives.
✨ Don't miss: Lo que nadie te cuenta sobre los próximos partidos de selección de fútbol de jamaica
The author, Jim Murphy, is a former minor league baseball player who now works as a performance coach. The book isn't some secret tactical manual on how to beat a Cover 2 defense. Instead, it’s a guide to mental discipline.
Why AJ Brown reads mid-game
Brown is pretty open about the "why" behind his habit. He says the game of football is "90% mental and 10% physical." Think about the pressure on a guy like him. If he drops a pass, millions of people scream at him on X (formerly Twitter). If he scores, he’s a hero for ten minutes until the next play.
He uses the book as a "reset" button. Here’s the philosophy he follows:
- Neutral Thinking: He wants to stay at zero. Whether he just scored an 80-yard touchdown or dropped a wide-open slant, he goes back to the book to find a "clear mind and clear conscience."
- The Humility Loop: One of his favorite takeaways from Murphy’s writing is the idea that if you are truly humble, you cannot be embarrassed. That’s a massive shield for a professional athlete.
- Peace in Chaos: Brown has talked about "finding peace in the midst of chaos." The NFL is violent and loud. Reading a few paragraphs of a self-help book helps him slow his heart rate and "play free."
Beyond the Sideline: The AJ Brown Reading List
If you think he’s a one-book wonder, you haven't seen his social media lately. After the "Inner Excellence" moment went viral, Brown leaned into his new identity as the NFL’s unofficial librarian. He’s shared a surprisingly deep list of books he’s tackled recently.
🔗 Read more: Listen to Dodger Game: How to Catch Every Pitch Without a Cable Bill
It’s a mix of stoicism, hardcore military leadership, and classic philosophy. If you’re looking to build a mental "toughness" library, his recommendations are actually a solid place to start.
The Heavy Hitters on His Shelf
- The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga. This one is huge in the sports world right now. It’s based on Adlerian psychology and argues that we should stop living for the approval of others. For a wide receiver who deals with constant media scrutiny, it makes perfect sense.
- The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. This one is a bit more controversial. It’s a "how-to" for social dynamics and power plays. Some people hate it, but many top-tier athletes use it to understand the business and politics of professional sports.
- The Art of War by Sun Tzu. A classic. It’s about strategy, knowing your enemy, and winning without unnecessary conflict.
- Call Sign Chaos by Jim Mattis. This is a leadership book from a former Marine General. It’s all about making decisions under extreme pressure.
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson. Again, the theme here is filtering out the noise. Brown seems obsessed with the idea of only caring about what actually matters.
The "Jalen Hurts" Connection and Team Culture
There’s a funny bit of irony here. For years, fans have joked about Jalen Hurts and his "fortune cookie" press conferences—the guy speaks almost entirely in motivational quotes. It turns out AJ Brown is the guy actually doing the homework.
While some fans were worried the reading was a sign of a rift between the star duo, Hurts actually confirmed that Brown has been doing this for a long time. It’s not a protest; it’s a routine. In fact, teammate and fellow receiver DeVonta Smith reportedly gave him one of the books on his list.
Does it actually work?
The stats say yes. Even in "down" years or seasons where the Eagles' offense looks sluggish, Brown remains one of the most physically dominant players in the league. He’s a three-time Pro Bowler for a reason.
💡 You might also like: LeBron James and Kobe Bryant: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Interestingly, after Brown went viral for reading "Inner Excellence," the book shot to the #1 spot on Amazon. People are desperate to find that same level of "lock-in." Even the author, Jim Murphy, was stunned, eventually being invited by Brown as a VIP guest to a divisional round game.
Actionable Takeaways from AJ’s Library
You don’t have to be an All-Pro receiver to use AJ Brown’s reading strategy. Here’s how you can apply his "sideline habit" to your own life:
- Find Your "Reset" Trigger: AJ uses a physical book. You might use a specific playlist or a breathing exercise. The goal is to have a routine that "deletes" the previous hour’s failures.
- Focus on the Process, Not the Crowd: Books like The Courage to Be Disliked teach you to ignore the "fans" in your life—whether they are actual fans or just judgmental relatives.
- Read for Utility, Not Just Leisure: Brown isn't reading Harry Potter on the bench. He’s reading books that give him a tool he can use five minutes later. If you’re heading into a tough meeting or a stressful week, pick up something that addresses your specific mental hurdle.
AJ Brown's sideline habit might look weird on a TV broadcast, but in a world where everyone is distracted by their phones, there’s something genuinely cool about a guy choosing to sharpen his mind while the world is watching.
If you want to start your own "mental toughness" journey, picking up a copy of Inner Excellence or The Courage to Be Disliked is the most direct path to understanding what's going on in the head of #11. Just don't be surprised if you find yourself wanting to go out and catch a touchdown afterward.
Next Step: You should grab a copy of The Courage to Be Disliked if you're looking for the most impactful book on AJ's recent list—it's widely considered the "deepest" dive into the philosophy he's currently living by.