The story of Chad Johnson, formerly known as Chad Ochocinco, and his relationship with the Philadelphia Eagles is one filled with admiration, mutual respect, and a touch of what-could-have-been. From his playing days to his current role as a media personality, Johnson has consistently expressed his affinity for the Eagles and their passionate fanbase.
Johnson's Playing Career and Near Miss with the Eagles
Selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2001 NFL draft, Johnson went on to have a stellar career, amassing 766 catches for 11,059 yards and 67 touchdowns. His exceptional performances earned him three consecutive First-Team All-Pro selections from 2004 to 2006 and a Second-Team All-Pro nomination in 2003. Additionally, he was honored with six Pro Bowl selections, spanning from 2003 to 2007 and then again in 2009.
However, things could have been different. In the 2001 draft, the Philadelphia Eagles, under President Joe Banner, chose UCLA standout receiver Freddie Mitchell over several other notable receivers, including Johnson. Mitchell struggled to establish himself with the Eagles, accumulating only 1,263 yards and five touchdowns in four seasons before being released by the team. Johnson, on the other hand, became one of the most talented receivers in NFL history.
The potential connection between quarterback Donovan McNabb and Johnson during the early 2000s, under the guidance of former Eagles coach Andy Reid and his innovative offensive scheme, would undoubtedly have been an exhilarating prospect for fans. It's not a stretch to say that both the Eagles and Johnson might have wished things had played out differently.
Johnson's Affection for Philadelphia and Its Fans
While attending Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith's celebrity softball game, Johnson expressed a distinctive rationale for why he regrets not being in Philadelphia during his career."I don't know how to explain it," Johnson said. "I like how they call people (expletive) and (expletive). There is no fanbase like this. They (expletive) beat up Santa. Who does that? I fell in love with the city, hearing the stories in the couple of months training with Boots."
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Johnson was in Allentown this summer for DeVonta Smith's celebrity softball game and gave a unique reason for why he should have been in Philadelphia during his career. “I don’t know how to explain it,” Ochocinco said Saturday via Chris Franklin of NJ.com. “I like how they call people d**** and s***. There is no fanbase like this. They f*** beat up Santa. Who does that? I fell in love with the city, hearing the stories in a couple of months of training with Boots.
Now a podcaster and jack of all trades, Johnson spends time in Philadelphia filming Inside The NFL on the CW Network. During one of his recent social media sessions, Johnson again angled for a role with the Eagles, this time as the wide receivers coach.
Johnson has close relations with Eagles wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and he's previously confessed his love for Philadelphia, thanks to fans pelting Santa Claus.
Philadelphia Eagles fans are known for their passionate and sometimes over-the-top behavior.
Johnson's Support for A.J. Brown
Johnson's support for Eagles' wide receiver A.J. Brown is unwavering. In a world with too many podcasts, Nightcap, hosted by Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson, is worth watching. During a recent episode, Johnson offered Brown some verbal backing. "It's not even the quarterback's fault. It's not even Jalen Hurts' fault. As an offensive coordinator, as an offense, as a head coach, how could you even be okay just because you're winning the game but not having some of your best players involved? "Do you understand what that does to players mentally? I don't think fans understand..."
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Johnson continued..."Yes, they won the game, but players want to contribute and help to win those said games...The man wants to contribute, and be productive, and help the offense.. You're paying me $33 million for a reason. Not only am I the number one receiver, I'm the captain of the team for a reason. Allow me to be part of the offense."
Unc & Ocho DEMAND Philly to STOP BALL HOGGING with Saquan and THROW A.J. Brown the BALL! | Nightcap
During Friday's episode of their Nightcap podcast, Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson gave their thoughts on the NFL's season opener. The latter added to the discourse around Brown, imploring the Eagles to get him more involved in the offense."How do you go into a game in Week 1 and you pay AJ Brown what $28 million? $33 million and he doesn't have a target," Johnson said. "How is he not part of the game plan. I understand the Eagles have a way of doing things, but how do you not get your No. 1 target, your no.
To their credit, the Eagles' coaching staff has echoed the need for Brown's involvement. If this Eagles team wants to accomplish its ultimate goal, Brown will have to be an essential piece of the offensive machine.
Some of the game's most colorful personalities etched their names in NFL lore with spectacular catches. Equally as many have given us spectacular quotes and viral moments. A.J. Brown is such a wide receiver. He never pulled a Sharpie out of his sock or did sit-ups in the driveway, but you'd be hard-pressed to find any NFL star who's more competitive. His desires are well-known. He wants to win. He knows he can help his team achieve that, and he wants to be part of the attack.
Bengals great Chad Johnson backs Eagles star A.J. Brown. They say 'birds of a feather flock together'. What do you think they'd say about the Philadelphia Eagles and wide receivers? There's always a dichotomy in having an elite pass catcher on the squad. No one needs to be reminded of the maintenance required, but if you do, consider this your refresher. Great wide receivers can elevate an offense, but you have to feed them. Failure to do so could result in calamity. No one is surprised by this info anymore. Well, at least you shouldn't be if you are. For as long as most of us can remember, wideout has been viewed as a 'diva position'.
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Eagles' 2025 Season Opener and Offensive Adjustments
Coming off their Super Bowl victory, the Philadelphia Eagles managed to kick off the 2025 season in the win column. Although they walked out with a 24-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, one former player had a key piece of criticism.
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jahan Dotson | N/A | 59 | N/A |
| DeVonta Smith | 3 | 16 | N/A |
| A.J. Brown | N/A | 8 | N/A |
After Kellen Moore departed to become head coach of the New Orleans Saints, the organization named Kevin Patullo as the new offensive coordinator. Patullo's first game calling plays worked out well for him, as the Eagles put together multiple scoring drives en route to beating the Cowboys. However, there is one key area of emphasis when it comes to improving moving forward.
When it comes to the Eagles' offense, their high-level duo of AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith is one of the major components. While Philadelphia was able to come away victorious, the former had close to no involvement on the field. Brown went nearly the whole game without Hurts getting him the ball, ending the evening with just one target for eight yards. Jahan Dotson wound up being the Eagles' leading receiver Thursday, totaling 59 yards. Smith had a quiet night as well, racking up just 16 yards on three receptions. The offense was able to pick apart the Cowboys' defense on the ground, with Hurts and Barkley rushing for all three of the team's touchdowns.
Given his consistent production since arriving in Philadelphia, Brown is going to have weeks where he is the driving force in the Eagles' success.
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