It’s Cinco de Mayo day nationally, but in the Greater Philadelphia area, it’s Brandon Graham Day, dubbed by 94.1 WIP. The radio station will be having a Q&A with the Eagles legend at the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville on Monday night as he reminisces about his playing career and his favorite moments as an Eagle.
With the two-time Super Bowl champion being celebrated for his phenomenal career, it serves as a good time to highlight some of the top moments of his 15-year career.
Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination
Before we get to the on-field success for Graham, what he has done off the field is certainly admirable. In 2024, he was honored with a nomination for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for the second time in his career. The award, viewed as one of the most prestigious across the NFL, honors community service work done by one player for all 32 teams. Graham started his own fund, The Team Graham Fund, to support charitable causes in his hometown of Detroit. Some initiatives include feeding the homeless, giving away clothes and mentoring young adults.
Graham has done a lot of charity work in the city of Philadelphia as well, spending time with various organizations from the Ronald McDonald House to being on the Board of Directors for the Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education.
On Monday, it was also announced that Graham has a children’s book out titled BG’s ABCs, Tackling Football and Life.
Graham will be equally remembered for what he has done off the field along with his accomplishments on the field.
Breaking Eagles’ games played record
After struggling to prove his worthiness of the first round pick the organization traded up for and used on him back in 2010 coming out of Michigan, Graham ultimately found his way and became one of the staples on the defense for the team becoming a full-time starter in 2016. From that season to 2020, Graham started in all 95 regular season games he played in, including in all 16 regular season contests in four of those five years while starting in all 15 in 2017.
In 2023, Graham set the franchise record for most games played and ultimately went on to play in 13 more than Jason Kelce who is second all-time with 193 games played to Graham’s 206.
He told WIP leading up to that record-breaking game “I’m smiling because I didn’t see it coming, but I’m happy it’s here.”
Graham amassed 76.5 sacks and 359 solo tackles in his career.
The 2016 Season
What a season it was for Graham in 2016. After starting in a then career-high 10 games in the season prior, he signed a four-year $26 million contract with the team with $14 million guaranteed leading up to the 2016 campaign. Graham put together very solid numbers racking up 51 tackles with 6.5 sacks all while learning how to play outside linebacker under Chip Kelly in a 3-4 defense. With his performance, Graham was named a Second-Team All-Pro for the only time in his 15-year career. It also was the start of his consistent presence on the defensive side of the football.
Scoop and Score against Rams in 2017
There were so many wonderful moments during the 2017 Super Bowl run for the Eagles, that some might forget that it was Graham who solidified that the team would host a playoff game by winning the NFC East.
On December 10, 2017, the Eagles were playing at the Los Angeles Rams in a game that is most remembered as the game Carson Wentz tore his ACL. However, with Wentz out and the Eagles on defense up by two, the Rams tried a desperation lateral play to keep the game alive. Graham scooped up the loose football and scored his lone defensive touchdown of his career.
The win sealed a home playoff game for the Eagles who would go on to beat Atlanta and rout Minnesota in the NFC Championship game at the Linc en route to Super Bowl LII.
The Super Bowl Strip Sack
This is the pinnacle moment in Graham’s career and the one worthy of a statue to be placed next to the “Philly Philly” statue down at the Stadium Complex. In what was an absolute slugfest of a game, Graham used his speed to get to Tom Brady, forcing the ball loose and Derek Barnett scooped it up. It was the game’s first sack and turnover and it came with 2:12 left in regulation with the Eagles leading 38-33 as the Patriots were driving inside Philadelphia’s 30-yard line. The Eagles went on to win the game 41-33 to win the first Super Bowl in franchise history.
Back in March, Graham told NFL Network that that play changed his career.
There have been many other notable moments for Graham not listed, but that strip sack of Brady will forever live on in Eagles’ lore. As will the man who fans and teammates affectionately call “B.G.”
LIX REUTERS/Mike Segar
