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For 15 NFL seasons, the name Brandon Graham has been synonymous with the Philadelphia Eagles. But after suffering a torn triceps on Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams, Graham may have suited up for the final time for the franchise that drafted him.
The Eagles selected Graham with the 13th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft out of Michigan, and he’s never left. Graham didn’t make his first Pro Bowl until 2020, at the age of 32. But he’s been the heartbeat of several iterations of the Eagles defense, including the one that won Super Bowl 52 thanks in large part of Graham’s late-game strip sack on Tom Brady.
So you can understand why the 36-year-old got choked up on Tuesday when discussing his potentially career-ending injury on Philadelphia radio station 94WIP.
Brandon Graham gets emotional talking about his season ending injury.
“I needed to get this out. It’s been awhile since I’ve cried.”
(via @SportsRadioWIP) pic.twitter.com/icmxO9PXnQ
— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) November 26, 2024
Brandon Graham Struggles To Keep In Emotions When Discussing Injury
“Hold on, I’m trying to keep it in,” Graham said. “I know I needed it. Boy, I just love what we’ve been building. I know I’m not letting anybody down as far as getting hurt and stuff because I know I’m going to bring the energy.”
The show’s hosts then stepped in to reassure Graham that he wasn’t letting either fans or his teammates down.
“I know, I know. I got you,” he continued. “I promise you, I’m just more hurt on how we’ve been coming every week and trying to defy the odds…I just needed this right here. I needed to get this out. It’s been a while since I’ve cried man. This was the one right here, this was the one. All I know is I just appreciate everybody in that locker room.
“We’ve been going through some things this year and we’ve bounced back and we been working and I’m gonna stay working. When I get this surgery I’m gonna be working and I’m gonna make sure I bringing that energy. I’m gonna make sure I do what I’m supposed to do every day like I’ve been doing. I’m going to be living through them boys and I’m gonna be so hype!”
Graham struggled in 2023 and many fans wondered if he, like teammates Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox, might opt for retirement. Instead, he returned in a reduced role and has been valuable for one of the league’s top defenses.
While the injury ends Graham’s season, he says it doesn’t necessarily end his NFL career.
It’s definitely in my mind for sure,” Graham said about retirement. “But I want to see how it look like, how I’m rehabbing, how I’m training. Every year is different. I know how I’ve been playing this year. We’ll see man.”