rewrite this title Eagles franchise icon announces retirement from NFL

In the wake of the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory, it remained unclear if Brandon Graham would retire. As expected, though, the 15-year veteran has elected to hang up his cleats.

Graham announced during a Tuesday press conference that he is retiring. This past summer, he indicated the 2024 campaign would be his last. As a result, his decorated Philadelphia run appeared to be over when he suffered a biceps tear in November. However, the 36-year-old managed to return in time for Super Bowl LIX, and he played a rotational role in the team’s victory.

“I could not be happier with the way my career played out, the love I’ve gotten, and the success the Eagles have had as an organization,” Graham said. “For real, it has been a dream come true.”

A first-round pick in 2010, Graham only occupied a rotational role for the first three years of his career. He was a mainstay along the edge for six straight seasons after that, including his first Super Bowl win. A Graham forced fumble during the fourth quarter of that contest was key in the Eagles’ win.

The Michigan product was limited to only two games in 2021, the first season of his final multi-year contract. Graham played out one-year pacts in 2023 and ’24 with questions about his future looming. The most productive campaign of his career (in terms of sacks) came in 2022 with 11, a sign of his continued importance during the waning stages of his career. While his playing time dropped to the level of a rotational contributor rather than a full-time starter in recent years, Graham remained a key presence on and off the field for Philadelphia.

Pursuing another one-year arrangement with the Eagles would have involved considerable rehab before the 2025 campaign. Graham re-tore his triceps during his second Super Bowl victory, a factor he likely considered when weighing his options for the future. A report in the wake of last month’s win noted he would take his time before making a formal decision, which is now officially in place. In retirement, Graham has followed fellow ‘Core Four’ Eagles Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox. The lone group member still set to play is right tackle Lane Johnson, who inked a one-year extension yesterday.

With this retirement decision looming and Josh Sweat expectedly departing in free agency, edge rush has been a position of note this offseason for the Eagles in recent days. The team is reportedly open to trading Bryce Huff, whose big-ticket 2024 free-agent deal did not pan out as hoped. Philadelphia’s pass-rush group includes Nolan Smith for the short- and long-term future and free-agent additions Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari. Graham’s absence will be acutely felt as the team looks to defend its title next season.

“Without question, Brandon Graham is the embodiment of everything you would want in a Philadelphia Eagle,” a statement from owner Jeffrey Lurie reads in part. “He’s a special player and a special person. It’s only fitting that he has played in more games than anyone else in the history of our franchise… We could not be prouder of the player, person, and family man that Brandon has become.

“On behalf of the Philadelphia Eagles, we congratulate Brandon on an incredible career and wish him and his family all the best in retirement.”

Graham’s 206 games played top the field for all Eagles players, and his 76.5 career sacks rank third in franchise history. With over $98M in career earnings and a pair of Super Bowls, he will now turn his attention to his post-playing days.