After months of speculation and weeks of anticipation, it’s official, Brandon Graham is back. The longest-tenured player in Eagles history has been removed from the exempt list and added to the team’s 53-man roster, marking the latest step in his remarkable comeback journey.
Graham, 37, initially retired in March after 15 incredible seasons with Philadelphia. But when the Eagles’ pass rush began to show signs of wear midseason, the veteran leader couldn’t stay away for long. He re-signed on
October 23, determined to help his team make one more push for the Super Bowl.
He is expected to make his season debut on Monday night against the Green Bay Packers
, a fitting return for one of the most respected voices in the locker room.
“Once you’ve bled green this long, it’s not just football anymore, it’s family,” Graham said with a grin after practice. “I told the guys, if there’s still fight left in this body, I’m giving it to Philly. One more run. One more shot at that Lombardi.”
This will be Graham’s 16th season in midnight green, a franchise record. Since being drafted 13th overall in 2010, he has become one of the most beloved Eagles of all time, ranking
third in team history with 76.5 sacks and first in total games played by a defensive lineman (206).
Fans will never forget his legendary strip sack on Tom Brady
in Super Bowl LII, the play that sealed Philadelphia’s first-ever championship. Now, years later, Graham’s return feels like a full-circle moment, a veteran coming back not for glory, but for loyalty and legacy.
As the Eagles prepare for the second half of the season, Graham will join a revamped defensive front featuring Jaelan Phillips, Jordan Davis, and Zack Baun. His leadership, experience, and voice in the locker room are seen as invaluable for a defense that currently ranks fifth in sacks and continues to evolve under coordinator
Vic Fangio.
“People talk about stats, but for me, it’s about moments, being with my brothers, hearing the crowd roar, feeling that energy,” Graham added. “If this is my last run, I want it to be one that Philly never forgets.”
