Eagles legend Brandon Graham announces he’s done playing football — again
Graham presumably ends his NFL career as the franchise’s all-time leader in games played with 215.
This time, there was no tearful goodbye, no reading from a script 16 seasons in the making.
Brandon Graham’s second public goodbye to football came on a stage at a Jefferson Health “Breakfast with the Birds” event Tuesday morning.
“I’m officially done,” Graham, 38, told the crowd. “Y’all are hearing it from me first. But let me tell you this, they are in great hands. Jordan Davis, I’m telling you, he is a guy that’s going to get the defense going. On offense, I can’t wait for Jalen [Hurts] to prove them haters wrong as always and get us back to the promised land.”
Graham’s first retirement from the game came in March of 2025. After coming back from injury early to play in the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory, the franchise leader in games played decided to end his playing career after 15 seasons with the team that drafted him in the first round out of Michigan in 2010.
But Graham’s initial retirement lasted just seven months. The Eagles, needing defensive depth, signed Graham for the rest of the 2025 season after Week 7. He played a limited role on the defensive front, but made important contributions after changing positions and taking on a role as an interior lineman while the Eagles dealt with the absence of Jalen Carter.
Graham, who stripped Tom Brady late in the team’s first-ever Super Bowl victory, registered two sacks in a shutout victory over Las Vegas in Week 15. He finished his final regular season with three sacks and eight total tackles in nine games.
He remained open to the possibility of coming back for a 17th season, but said at a recent PHLY Sports event that his return needed to be before the season, not joining a season in progress like in 2025.
The Eagles retooled their edge rushing corps in the offseason, most notably by trading for Jonathan Greenard and signing him to an extension worth nearly $100 million. They have an ascending young player in Jalyx Hunt and another, Nolan Smith Jr., who is entering his fourth NFL season. Howie Roseman also added some veteran depth in Arnold Ebiketie and A.J. Epenesa.
“Communication between BG, the Eagles, and me has always been consistent,” Roseman said in July. “BG was the first draft pick I ever made as GM. Those conversations, obviously between us and every player, we’re going to keep between us and the player. I want to be consistent with whoever that is that we do that. But obviously you’re talking about one of the greatest Eagles players and an unbelievable person. Last year, his ability to come back in and help us was huge for our football team. But again, those conversations we’ll keep private.”
Graham ends his NFL career as the franchise’s all-time leader in games played with 215. He played in another 13 postseason games. His 5½ playoff sacks add to a career regular season total of 79½.
“I’m going to still be around,” Graham said at the event Tuesday. “I’m still around. I’m still giving wisdom, helping the guys.
“It’s an adjustment for me, but it’s a great adjustment because it’s all about my kids and my family, trying to make sure I’m there for that. Just spreading the love everywhere.”
The Eagles’ regular season roster is set - for now. How ready is the team for the new year, and will the talent be enough for the Eagles to get back to Super Bowl contention? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Mike Sielski examine general manager Howie Roseman’s final roster decisions in the aftermath of cutdown day. Listen here.
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