Even in retirement, Brandon Graham can’t help himself when it comes to the New York Giants. The beloved Philadelphia Eagles defensive end, fresh off capturing his second Super Bowl title, turned his appearance at Fanatics Fest in New York City into a trash-talking clinic — and Giants fans were the target of his sharpest jab.
During “The Champs Are Here” panel alongside Eagles icons Dawn Staley, Brian Dawkins, Cooper DeJean and Nick Foles, Graham was asked about his favorite line of trash talk. Without hesitation, he delivered a classic: “I guess my new thing is, I’m thanking Giants fans right now. Thank you to every Giants fan out there… Thank you for not being smart. Your team let us get Saquon.”
The line was vintage Graham — charming, sharp, and absolutely rooted in truth. The Giants’ decision to let Saquon Barkley walk in free agency may go down as one of the most regrettable moves in franchise history. Despite years of loyalty, production and playing through injuries, Barkley was allowed to test the market while New York opted to hand quarterback Daniel Jones a four-year, $160 million deal.
Philadelphia wasted no time, signing Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million contract with $26 million guaranteed. The move paid immediate dividends. In his first season in midnight green, Barkley delivered one of the most dominant individual seasons the NFL has ever seen — rushing for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding 278 receiving yards and two more scores. He was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year and helped power the Eagles to their second Super Bowl title in six years.
The defining moment of poetic justice came in Week 7. Barkley returned to MetLife Stadium and torched his former team for 176 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries in a 28-3 Eagles rout. By season’s end, he had accounted for nearly 35 percent of Philadelphia’s total offensive yardage, finishing with 2,283 scrimmage yards.
For Graham, the irony was too good to ignore. A player who spent 15 seasons tormenting the Giants on the field — racking up 76.5 career sacks, including eight against New York — now found a new way to deliver pain from the podium. “Thank you, Giants fans,” he said with a grin. “We appreciate it.”
Graham’s charm has always come with bite, and Eagles fans wouldn’t have it any other way. As the Giants grapple with the fallout of their decision, Philadelphia is hoisting another Lombardi Trophy — with the help of a running back New York never should’ve let go.