Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Hero to Retire After 2024-25 Season

The 2024-25 NFL season will be the final one in an illustrious playing career for Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl defensive end Brandon Graham.

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Graham confirmed to reporters on the first day of Eagles training camp that Wednesday will be the final first day of camp of his NFL playing career.

“Last first day as a player,” Graham said. “I don’t know what the future holds next year in the organization as the next level, but I know it will be something.”

Graham, 36, is entering his 15th season in the NFL, all with the Eagles. He was drafted in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft by Philadelphia, and instantly became a part of the rotation, notching three sacks his rookie season. Graham then became a consistent force of the Eagles’ defense in 2012, and would remain that way for his entire career.

In 2016, Graham was named to the AP All-Pro 2nd Team after securing 14 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles across all 16 games. In 2020, he earned his first and only Pro Bowl nod, finishing the season with 13 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and two forced fumbles.

Graham suffered a torn Achilles in Week 2 of the 2021 season and was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Then, he came back with a vengeance in 2022, compiling a career-high 11 sacks en route to an AP All-Pro 1st Team honor. He also finished fourth for the Comeback Player of the Year award.

Graham has appeared in all 17 games for the Eagles in each of the last two seasons. This past season, he had three sacks and four tackles for loss.

Graham was, of course, part of the 2018 Eagles Super Bowl championship team. He’s famous for one of the most important plays in franchise history, securing a strip sack on Tom Brady with just over two minutes to go in the game. It was the only turnover of the game for the New England Patriots, and proved costly as the Eagles secured a field goal and ended up winning, 41-33.

Graham will hope to help the Eagles reach the Super Bowl yet again in 2025, but for now, he’s just taking his last year one day at a time.

“I’m thankful, man. Just trying to enjoy everyday,” Graham said. “This is my last year, man. Just trying to soak it all in, trying to enjoy everyday, trying to give it everything, no stone unturned.”