Brandon Graham is calling it a career. After 16 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, the veteran defensive end announced Tuesday that he’s retiring from the NFL. Philadelphia took Graham 13th overall out of Michigan in the 2010 NFL Draft, and he spent every one of his 16 seasons with the franchise that drafted him, growing into one of the most important defensive players of the team’s modern era.
Graham finishes as the Eagles’ all-time leader in regular-season games played, a number that speaks to how long he stayed productive at a position that chews players up. He racked up 79.5 sacks, 495 tackles, 23 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries over his career, numbers that put him third on Philadelphia’s all-time sack list.
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The two-time Super Bowl champ earned Second-team All-Pro honors in 2016 and made a Pro Bowl in 2020, well past the point most edge rushers start slowing down.
Brandon Graham Announces Retirement
The announcement came Tuesday during “Breakfast with the Birds,” where Graham confirmed he’s done playing. The longtime defender wants to stick around and pass what he knows on to Philadelphia’s next wave of defensive players, while finally putting more of his time toward his kids and family.
“I’m officially done, y’all hearing it from me first,” Graham said (h/t Rob Kuestner). “But let me tell you this, [the Eagles] are in great hands. I mean, Jordan Davis, I’m telling you, he’s a guy that is going to get the defense going. On offense, I can’t wait for Jalen to prove them haters wrong as always and get us back to the promised land. Imma still be around, giving wisdom, helping the guys, because it’s an adjustment for me. But it’s a great adjustment because it’s all about my kids and my family. Tryna make sure I’m there for that.”
Graham’s legacy in Philadelphia will always run through two Super Bowl titles, with his postseason performances standing as some of the defining moments in franchise history.
Now the Eagles have to figure out how to replace that voice in the locker room, starting when they open the 2026 NFL regular season at home against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
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