Detroit native Brandon Graham is going out on top.
The longtime Philadelphia Eagles defensive end and former Michigan Wolverine announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday after 15 seasons.
“You all know I gave everything I had in this,” Graham said at his retirement news conference. “I don’t have no regrets.
“Fifteen years ago, I walked into this city as a young man with dreams -- big dreams -- a little bit of nervousness, and a whole lot of fire in my heart. I had no idea back then what this journey would bring. I didn’t know how many times I’d be tested, I didn’t know how much I would grow, and I sure didn’t know how deeply I would fall in love with these fans and the team and this city.”
Graham’s fortitude was tested this season after suffering a torn triceps in late November which was expected to end his 2024 campaign. But the franchise’s all-time leader in games played made a triumphant return to the lineup for the Eagles’ 40-22 Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last month, recording one tackle and playing 13 defensive snaps.
The No. 13 overall pick in 2010 also notably strip-sacked Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII to help secure a dramatic 41-33 win.
Graham, who turns 37 next month, played 206 career regular-season games with 106 starts and totaled 76 1/2 sacks, which ranks third in Eagles history behind Reggie White (124) and Trent Cole (85 1/2).
He set a career-high just two years ago with 11 sacks. Before his injury in November, Graham had played in 11 games and recorded 3 ½ sacks as part of a stout Eagles front.
In four seasons at Michigan from 2006-09, Graham registered 29½ sacks. He also led the Big Ten in tackles for loss in 2008 (20) and 2009 (26).