Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown has become one of the NFL’s most electrifying wide receivers, but his journey started long before he stepped onto a professional field.
Before the spotlight and the accolades, his story began in Starkville, Mississippi, with his parents, Arthur Brown Sr. and Josette Robertson. Their guidance, along with the support of a tight-knit family, built the foundation for his incredible rise to stardom.
How Did Arthur Brown Sr. Bring Baseball Home?
Arthur Brown Sr. grew up in Chicago before his family relocated to Starkville. He was a multi-sport athlete who briefly played wide receiver in high school, sharing the field with the legendary Jerry Rice. However, as Sports Illustrated noted, baseball was his true passion.
Arthur turned that love into a valuable opportunity for his children. On the family’s sprawling 165-acre property, he built a makeshift infield where the Browns spent countless hours practicing.
A.J. honed his swing by blasting baseballs deep into the woods, following directly in his father’s footsteps. The game instilled a sense of persistence and focus in him, qualities that would later define his football career.
Beyond sports, Arthur’s role in the community was significant. His involvement at 16th Section Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, highlighted his strong belief in discipline and community values. This blend of faith and athletics created the unique environment in which his children were raised.
How Did Josette Robertson Balance Discipline and Faith?
While Arthur focused on athletics, Josette Robertson provided the structure that kept the family grounded. An Illinois native who moved to Starkville in her youth, Robertson was not an athlete herself. However, she came from a family with athletic genes, as two of her brothers stood at 6’7″ and 6’9″.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Josette and Arthur raised their children with strict discipline. Daily life included a routine of chores, curfews, and phone restrictions. As the youngest, A.J. was given slightly more leeway than his sisters, but the same core values of responsibility and hard work were expected of him.
Josette’s honesty about A.J.’s unexpected birth revealed both her sense of humor and her deep faith. “I apologized to God after finding out about the pregnancy,” she said.
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“We said we were through. Two girls was gonna be it. But we joke now and I tell him his daddy, that he prayed for him, that he was praying against me so he could have somebody to carry on his name,” according to the Inquirer.
Alongside Arthur, Josette anchored the family in their church life. She taught Sunday school and consistently reinforced the values of faith and discipline that became central to A.J.’s identity.
What Made the Brown Family So Influential?
Arthur and Josette raised three children: their daughters, Reva Claybrook and Shareda Robertson, and their youngest, A.J. Each of them embraced sports. Reva excelled in basketball, Shareda starred in both softball and basketball, and A.J. successfully balanced baseball with football throughout his youth.
The siblings remember their childhood on the family’s 165-acre property as a simple and joyful time. They bonded tightly through trampoline games, afternoons spent with their pit bull Kobe, and long days at church.
CLASS ACT: #Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown paid for haircuts and school supplies for hundreds of local kids in need this year.
👏
Brown continues to give back to those in need in the local community — changing these kids lives. Truly amazing.
pic.twitter.com/upxsMpQmen
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) August 17, 2025
Reva and Shareda recalled that their parents’ strictness was most firmly applied to them, while A.J., as the youngest, benefited from a bit more freedom. Still, all three children carried the important lessons of empathy, discipline, and perseverance that their parents taught them.
From Arthur’s passion for baseball to Josette’s structured and faith-filled household, the Browns built a home where responsibility and athletics thrived together. Ultimately, that family framework was essential in shaping A.J. into the player and person he is today.
Brown’s passion will be put on display again Thursday night when the Philadelphia Eagles kick off the 2025 NFL season with a “banner night” celebration clash with the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys. The game will be televised at 8:20 ET on NBC.
