Brandon Graham ended his retirement to rejoin the Philadelphia Eagles at the risk of spoiling a Hollywood ending to his 15-year NFL career. Graham walked off the field in New Orleans in February with a second Lombardi Trophy already having planned for the final game of the 2024 season being his last. Those plans changed […]
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Brandon Graham ends retirement, rejoins Eagles
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Brandon Graham ended his retirement to rejoin the Philadelphia Eagles at the risk of spoiling a Hollywood ending to his 15-year NFL career.
Graham walked off the field in New Orleans in February with a second Lombardi Trophy already having planned for the final game of the 2024 season being his last.
Those plans changed and Graham made the one-year deal with the Eagles official.
“I’m coming back, baby. I’m excited,” Graham said Tuesday. “No expectations. Just excited to get after it. Of course, I believe in the team. That’s a big part of it too. I know they’ve got everything that they need. Just can’t wait to add a little more.”
Graham, 37, said he wanted to keep playing after returning from a torn triceps to play in the Super Bowl earlier this year. But he didn’t get a sense from the Eagles that they wanted him back, and wasn’t willing to play for another team. Graham is the longest-tenured player in team history.
“It was only going to be for the Eagles,” he said Tuesday.
The Eagles are 26th in the NFL with 11 sacks this season. Nolan Smith and Ogbo Okoronkwo are on injured reserve, and Okoronkwo was ruled out for the season.
Graham cranked up the intensity of his workouts in September with a potential return in mind and the Eagles now have an open roster spot.
Philadelphia was granted a two-week roster exemption for Graham, meaning that he could be activated to play Sunday against the New York Giants or on Nov. 10 against the Green Bay Packers, following the team’s Week 9 bye.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said he has been prodding Graham to return since the Super Bowl ended.
“All the way from the start, I was teasing him not to retire all the way back to last February or March,” Fangio said. “Yeah, I’ve run into him, and we’ve talked when he’s come by. I always tease him about it, trying to light the fire.”
Fangio said the Eagles won’t know if Graham can play more than a bit part until he’s on the practice field Wednesday.
“Shape comes in two forms: One, just your conditioning, but in football shape, too, contact shape. So, hopefully the sooner the better,” Fangio said.
Graham has 76.5 career sacks, but only 6.5 total in his past 28 regular-season games.
Graham obviously knows the team and scheme. He said his return timeline was adjusted by pass rusher Za’Darius Smith abruptly retiring last week.
“I am glad I’m doing it earlier because I get a week of practice. Get another week on the bye week. Of course, I’m going to do some extra (work). I’ve got to get my training camp going,” Graham said. “I think by Green Bay I should be a go. Just easing my way in. But who knows? It could be this week. You just never know. They want to see where I’m at.”
–Field Level Media