In an unusual scene at Super Bowl LIX, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown was spotted engrossed in a book during sideline moments at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, where his team secured a decisive 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The book behind the buzz

Internet sleuths quickly identified Brown’s reading material as “Inner Excellence” by Jim Murphy, a performance-focused guide that has since captured national attention. The book, which explores mindset mastery and personal development, offers insights into achieving peak performance and emotional resilience.

The exposure proved transformative for Murphy’s publication. “I didn’t expect that at all—it’s a real gift,” Murphy remarked after his book soared to Amazon’s #1 bestseller position after Brown was spotted reading it in a game in January 2025. Before this exposure, the book had ranked in the thousands on Amazon’s charts.

Impact on sales and reviews

The book’s popularity among Eagles fans has been particularly noteworthy, garnering impressive metrics:

• 375 customer reviews
• 4.7 out of 5-star rating
• Outranking popular titles including Freida McFadden’s “The Housemaid” (431,491 reviews)

One enthusiastic reviewer captured the Eagles fans’ sentiment, writing, “AJ Brown recommended this book, so I’m looking forward to reading it. Fly Eagles Fly,” as reported by the Associated Press.

Game context

The reading session occurred during a historic night for the Eagles, who dominated the Chiefs as Patrick Mahomes endured a career-high number of sacks. Murphy’s coaching expertise, which extends to athletes, business leaders, and individuals seeking performance enhancement, seemed particularly relevant given the game’s outcome.