You probably didn’t have this one on your 2025 bingo card.
Legendary Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Brandon Graham will return to the Eagles after the position had been depleted by free agency, injuries and off field developments since Graham helped them win Super Bowl LIX in February then retired from professional football one month later.
“Sources: Former Eagles standout Brandon Graham, the longest tenured player in franchise history, is finalizing a deal to rejoin the franchise this week,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on October 20. “Graham played 15 seasons in Philadelphia and now will return for his 16th season.”
The Eagles could use any help they can get right now and Graham could get an extended amount of time to tune up for his regular season debut. The Eagles host the New York Giants in Week 8 then have a bye in Week 9 before returning to action for a Monday Night Football road game against the Green Bay Packers in Week 10.
“The Eagles are finalizing a contract with pass rusher Brandon Graham, source confirms,” The Athletic’s Diana Russini wrote on her official X account. “A two-time Super Bowl champion, the franchise’s all-time leader in games played comes out of retirement to bolster a pass rush with just 11 sacks on the season.”
It also appears Graham has stayed physically ready.
“I’m told BG has been working out regularly for the last month to get ready to return,” NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark wrote on his official X account.
Graham’s Epic Career With Eagles
Graham spent his entire career with the Eagles and won 2 Super Bowls, including an upset of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII in which his strip sack of quarterback Tom Brady with 2:12 remaining gave the ball back to the Eagles and sealed the first Super Bowl win in franchise history.
Graham, 36 years old, played his final game in a 40-22 blowout win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
“I gave everything I had in this,” Graham said on March 18. “I don’t have (any) regrets … that’s one thing I tell the young boys. Don’t have any regrets … 15 years ago I walked into this city as a young man with dreams. Big dreams. A little bit of nervousness and a whole lot of fire in my heart. I had no idea, back then, what this journey would bring. I didn’t know how many times I would be tested. I didn’t know how much I would grow and I surely didn’t know how much I would fall in love with these fans and this team.”
Graham was the 2009 Big Ten Most Valuable Player and selected by the Eagles in the first round (No. 16 overall) of the 2010 NFL draft out of Michigan. He earned NFL All-Pro honors in 2016 and made the Pro Bowl in 2020.
Eagles Dealing With Injuries, Surprise Retirement
The Eagles are down their 2 best edge rushers — and one of them ain’t coming back.
Edge rusher Za’Darius Smith shocked the Eagles when he announced his retirement on Instagram on October 13. Smith, 33 years old, played in 5 games with the Eagles, with 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks after he signed a 1-year, $4.25 million free agent contract right before the season.
The most promising young edge rusher on the roster, former first round pick Nolan Smith, has missed the last 4 games with a triceps injury and won’t likely return to the lineup for another month.
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