Settling in at the press conference table, flanked by two Lombardi Trophies — sheened and shimmering, likely polished that morning — sat a true Philadelphia Eagles’ legend named Brandon Graham.
The 36-year-old was trying to read a prepared statement announcing his retirement from football, fighting back the shiny tears as they streaked down his face, and threatened to outdazzle the championship hardware next to him.
Graham — the 13th overall pick of the Eagles in the 2010 NFL Draft — surrendered to emotion and coughed up a fitting farewell one month after winning his second Super Bowl. He said: “No regrets. That’s the one thing I tell them young boys, I don’t have no regrets.”
He officially retired as one of the most prolific pass rushers in Eagles’ history, with 76.5 sacks, and only two names ahead of him on the team’s all-time list. Graham left on his own terms, going out on top following a dominant 40-20 revenge rout in Super Bowl 59.
His 15 NFL seasons, all with the Eagles, are tied for the most in franchise history. And his 206 regular-season games (plus 20 playoff contests), all played in the same uniform, rank first in franchise history, probably etched in stone for eternity.
“Fifteen years ago, I walked into this city as a young boy with dreams, big dreams, a little bit of nervousness and a whole lot of fire in my heart,” Graham told reporters. “I had no idea back then what this journey would bring. I didn’t know how many times I would be tested. I didn’t know how much I would grow. And I surely didn’t know how deeply I would fall in love with these fans and the team in this city.”
It wasn’t always easy for the Detroit native with the mega-watt smile. He was tested in his first few years in Philly, labeled a bust and an injury risk. The Eagles nearly let him walk in free agency in 2015, eventually, the two sides agreed on a four-year, $26 million deal. John Stockton would have a hard time finding an easier steal than the Eagles did.
“When they put that bust label on me, that was tough,” Graham said. ” I didn’t want to go outside. I didn’t want to do nothing.”
Graham was still trying to find his footing in 2010 as one of the first tweeners, stuck somewhere between defensive end and linebacker, with sacks coming in short supply (17). He thanked Andy Reid for drafting him and looking him in the eye, man to man. Big Red told him he belonged in the NFL, then the next regime — head coach Doug Pederson and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz — showed him where he fit on the chess board.
“Shout out to Schwartz,” Graham said. “That opportunity came, and I didn’t look back.”
Super Bowl Champion: From Battered Bust to Brady Beater
Two Super Bowl rings later, the one-time Pro Bowler has a strong case to be on the Eagles’ Mount Rushmore. His strip-sack on Tom Brady in Super Bowl 52 has a permanent place on the walls at the NovaCare Complex as artwork, never to be forgotten or plastered over.
“That’s always going to be a good one because a Michigan guy against another Michigan guy,” Graham said of the Brady sack. “I just happened to be there but that was all of us. The person who took away his first read, that’s the guy I need to thank because all that stuff worked together.”
That one play — Graham still has it set it as his background on Twitter — erased years and years of hurt for a city starved for a championship. And it softened up a fan base which once hurled criticism at him for not living up to the hardened expectations of a first-round pick.
“We didn’t start so tight, you made me work for this, and I appreciate you for that,” Graham said of Philadelphia. “Through the struggles, the injuries, and the moments when I had to prove myself over and over again, you never let me get comfortable. You held me accountable. You kept that chip on my shoulder.
“You pushed me to be better and when the time came, we celebrated together, two times. This city is built on hard work, resilience, and unmatched passion. And you bring the same energy to every game, every moment, every season. Your loyalty, your fire, and your unwavering support means everything to me.”
Graham will go down as one of the best trash talkers in Philly sports history, a spittle-flecked reputation he wore proudly at all times. After their latest NFC Championship Game win, Graham was giddily chiding reporters for counting the Eagles out when they were sitting on a 2-2 record.
“I am happy to not have the stresses of y’all no more,” Graham said, laughing, and pointing at reporters. “The ups and downs of me saying some stuff, and then the next thing I know I got to live through the week.”
The affable edge rusher often exchanged smack with his teammates at practice, too, specifically Lane Johnson and Fletcher Cox. Both those guys loved giving it back to him. But, expectedly and on brand, the most vitriol came in those Dallas matchups.
“Anything with Dallas, man,” Graham said. “I’m always talking stuff to Dak [Prescott]. Dak be cool out there when we have our back and forth.”
What’s Next for Brandon Graham?
Unsurprisingly, Graham has no plans to retire the trash talking or lose the camaraderie of the locker room. While his playing days are 100% over — “I’m ending on my terms and I’m thankful for this moment,” he said — the two-time Super Bowl champion plans to continue to rehab his retorn triceps at the Eagles’ practice facility. He also has a dinner date with owner Jeffrey Lurie on the calendar to discuss his future with the only franchise he’s ever known.
“I want to make sure that I can be a help,” Graham said. “I don’t want to go cold turkey, just leaving the game. I love football too much.”
Whatever that is, stay tuned. If Graham’s 100-miles-per-hour career was any indication, he’s going to do it with the same force he used when he sacked Tom Brady in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 52.
Other nuggets from Brandon Graham’s nearly 40-minute Eagles’ retirement ceremony…
Graham thought long and hard about returning for one more season. In fact, he was leaning toward coming back after the triceps injury ended his 2024 season early.
“If I don’t make it back to the Super Bowl I probably wouldn’t be up here right now, I promise you. I’d be begging to come back for one more. I was happy to make it back and be able to play with my guys and put that uniform on one more time in a big moment on the big stage.”
Graham admitted that the Eagles took the Super Bowl loss to Kansas City really hard in 2023. They were determined to get back and avenge that defeat.
“We owed them from the first one and we didn’t forget it. That one stung. And we didn’t run from that moment either. In that moment, when … I wanted to run. I wanted to go straight to that locker room, but I went out there and I faced it and that’s what we all did. We all faced it.”
On winning two Super Bowl championships for the Philadelphia Eagles:
“We made something that can never be taken away, two championships, two of them. We made history together and while the trophies and rings are incredible, what I’ll cherish most are the moments, the locker room laughs. I mean … Lane [Johnson], Fletch [Cox], J Hurts, all of them boys know I feel about them. Them on-field battles we went through — it was a chemistry like none other and I’m going to always remember that because that’s what helped me in those moments when they called me a bust. JP [Jason Peters], Trent Cole … lifelong friendships that I’ll cherish forever.”
Graham passes the torch over to 24-year-old Nolan Smith:
“I just told Nolan, now this is your room. Now you’re the guy. Now you’re the oldest guy in that room.”
LIX REUTERS/Mike Segar
