The Legend of Eagles’ DE Brandon Graham May Live on in Super Bowl 59
Brandon Graham is the longest-tenured athlete in Philadelphia, now in his 15th season with the Eagles. That is, he was until he suffered a torn triceps in his left arm during a Week 12 matchup—a 37-20 win over the Rams. It’s the same arm that cemented Graham’s legacy when he stripped the ball from Tom Brady in Super Bowl 52, helping the Eagles secure their first and only championship while clinging to a five-point lead with just over two minutes remaining.
After what seemed like a season-ending injury in late November, Graham was placed on injured reserve and underwent surgery. However, he never stopped working, keeping hope alive that he could return if his team made it to the Super Bowl. That dedication extended his recovery timeline just enough to make a potential comeback for the February 9th championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs a real possibility.
Ahead of Schedule
Today, Graham’s perseverance paid off. The Eagles officially opened his practice window, signaling that the 36-year-old defensive end is well ahead of schedule in his recovery.
“I do feel good,” Graham said Monday night on sports talk radio WIP. “This has been the easiest injury I’ve had, at least compared to the others. Upper-body injuries are a little easier to manage. This time, it’s about building muscle, getting stronger, and making sure I don’t re-injure it.”
Drafted 13th overall by the Eagles in 2010, Graham has spent his entire 15-year career in Philadelphia, becoming one of the franchise’s most beloved players. His 76.5 career sacks rank third in team history, and before his injury on November 24th, he had already recorded 3.5 sacks through 12 games this season.
His potential return for Super Bowl 59 could provide an emotional and motivational boost to his teammates just by being in uniform. “A guy that has endeared himself to this franchise,” Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said. “He’s always uplifting others and mentoring young guys coming in. With someone of his experience and tenure, it’s bigger than the game.”
A Final Ride?
Before the season, Graham announced his plans to retire after this year, but given the team’s success, that decision is now uncertain.
If this is his final game, he hopes to go out on top. After not making a significant impact in the Eagles’ last Super Bowl appearance against the Chiefs two years ago, Graham aims to change that this time around. If he can create the same kind of chaos against Patrick Mahomes as he did against Tom Brady back in 2018, his legendary status in Philadelphia will only grow.
