After days of speculation and numerous reports citing unnamed sources, Brandon Graham is leaving no doubt about his retirement status in the NFL. The two-time Super Bowl champion and longest-tenured Philadelphia Eagle in history announced Tuesday that he is coming out of retirement and will rejoin the Birds’ defense.
Graham, 37, explained his plans for a 16th season with Philly on his “Brandon Graham Unblocked” podcast with PHLY Sports.
“Now you can hear it from me, I’m back one more time,” Graham said. “I’m excited, no expectations, just trying to help the team.”
The Eagles also confirmed the news on social media, saying “BG is Back!” and that the team had agreed to terms with the veteran DE.
Graham said Eagles general manager Howie Roseman had asked him to come out again for one more season, but Graham wasn’t sure.
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Graham said he didn’t want to rush back into playing, but felt he had “some more juice” to go another season.
“I was like, if something else comes up, I’m gonna do it,” Graham said.
The Birds then signed defensive end Za’Darius Smith, who abruptly retired after five games, and even had Graham’s old locker. That really got Graham thinking about how he would come back.
“I’m going to come back, bring myself, and bring the energy, go out there the first play [like] ‘oh, you thought I was done, you thought you wasn’t gonna have to deal with me anymore?'” Graham said.
Graham said the window of opportunity was open, and that while he did have a great ending to his 15th season with the Super Bowl win, he didn’t want to have regrets down the line about possibly playing one more season. And the time to play is now, before too much time passes with him out of the league.
“While I can still do it, and while the opportunity is right, that’s exactly what I want to do,” Graham added.
He also said there was no question that if he came back, it would be to join the Eagles.
It remains to be seen how much the Eagles will use Graham or when he’ll suit up for his first game. But the 5-2 Eagles have lost a few players on defense this season and could use the help.
Graham sat out the final weeks of the Eagles’ 2024 season after tearing his triceps in Week 12 vs. the Los Angeles Rams. He returned to play in Super Bowl LIX but then re-tore the muscle in the resounding victory that halted Kansas City’s attempt at a three-peat.
With each of the Birds’ two Lombardi trophies at his side, Graham announced his first retirement in March after a season he often referred to as his “farewell tour.”
Fans react to Brandon Graham’s unretirement
Fans were largely positive in response to the news. At a local Wawa, we heard plenty from fans wearing their Eagles gear as they picked up their morning coffee.
“They think 37 is old. That’s not really old, coming from an old man,” one fan said. “If I was 37, I’d still want to play.”
“It’s a good thing, we need him,” another fan said. “We got no defensive line, and it’s going to save us a little bit.”
