Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham announced his retirement Tuesday after 15 seasons in the NFL.
Graham said in a statement: “I gave it everything I had, I have no regrets. To Philadelphia, we didn’t start so tight as you know. You made me work for this and I appreciate you for that. Through the struggles, the injuries and moments, I had to prove myself again. You never let me get comfortable. You held me accountable. You kept that chip on my shoulder. You pushed me to be better and when the time came, we celebrated together, two times. This city is built off hard work, resilience and unmatched passion. You bring the same energy to every game, every moment and every season. Your loyalty, your fire and unwavering support mean everything to me and this organization. Philly doesn’t just support its teams, it lives for them and I see it and I feel it. I appreciate every single one of you and thank you for being the heartbeat of this city …. This game has changed my life, but more importantly this city has changed my life. It has given me a purpose far beyond football. It has shown me what it means to be a leader, a friend, a man of faith and integrity. While my time on the field is coming to an end, my love for this team and city will never fade. Philadelphia and everybody from the bottom of my heart, I just want to thank y’all. E-A-G-L-E-S. Eagles! Fly, Eagles Fly. BG out, baby!”
Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie shared in a press release: “Without question, Brandon Graham is the embodiment of everything you would want in a Philadelphia Eagle. He’s special player and person. It’s only fitting that he has played in more games than anyone else in the history of this franchise. The positive energy he brought every day was infectious. Whether it was a practice, a game, or just walking around the building — anyone who has had the pleasure of interacting with him would tell you that it was impossible to have a bad day after being in his presence. Make no mistake, he was a tough, physical, and physical player who played an integral role in the success we had over the years. Although Brandon is officially retiring as a player, we know that his impact on our team will continue to be felt for many years to come. Whether it is through culture he helped us build or his future endeavors, 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, a first-round pick out of Michigan in 2010, spent his entire career in Philadelphia. He holds the team record for most regular-season games played (206) and is third all time in sacks (76.5). Perhaps most notable in his career was his strip sack of Patriots’ QB Tom Brady in the closing moments of Super Bowl LII, which helped secure the Eagles the win over New England.
After Graham tore his triceps in late November against the Los Angeles Rams, he announced that he would miss the remainder of the season. However, he quietly rehabbed behind the scenes and was able to return for the team’s decisive Super Bowl LIX win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
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