Longtime Eagle Brandon Graham, owner of perhaps the most important, iconic play in the team’s history, announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday. His heartfelt and emotional speech, part of the press event for the announcement, will almost surely join former teammate Jason Kelce’s speech on the list of tear-inducing Birds’ goodbyes.
Brandon Graham speaks with the media. #FlyEaglesFly https://t.co/9LskA9Azbu
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 18, 2025
The news wasn’t unexpected. Graham reportedly retore the left tricep%20was%20over.) that almost kept him out of the Eagles’ 40-22 Super Bowl rout of the Kansas City Chiefs last month.
The 36-year-old spent all 15 of his professional seasons with Philadelphia and, after a slow start hampered by injuries, went on to become the team’s most-tenured player.
“Y’all know I gave everything I had, everything I had in this,” he said Tuesday. “And I don’t have no regrets.”
Before giving his speech, Graham marked his departure by hanging up his game-worn cleats from Super Bowl 59 on the Rocky Statue, outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Letting 'em know the job is done & he's going out on top 🫡@brandongraham55 | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/KKpZYgqCKS
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 18, 2025
Reactions are still coming in from the Philly sports world and beyond, but it seems like the message definitely reached the Phillies in Bradenton, Fla., with Nick Castellanos’ deep left-field home run marking another somber day in the sports world. Castellano’s homers and hits have coincided with much bleaker news, beginning Thom Brennaman’s hot mic flub and subsequent replacement on a Cincinnati Reds broadcast, and now Graham’s retirement announcement is among them.
Bye bye baseball 👋 pic.twitter.com/0pDy7lKV4Z
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 18, 2025
Quarterback Jalen Hurts and other Birds teammates and staff, whom Graham thanked in his speech, were at the press conference and celebrated with him afterwards.
Brandon Graham's teammates and coaches congratulate him after his retirement announcement pic.twitter.com/bzmCYKichl
— Chris Franklin (@cfranklinnews) March 18, 2025
The team also posted a statement from chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie.
pic.twitter.com/erMn3IDQ5S
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 18, 2025
Former teammate and fellow Super Bowl 52 champion Chris Long sent his congratulations.
Congrats on retirement BG! You're a legend. @brandongraham55 https://t.co/7zvL9BGqjS pic.twitter.com/98XDpeZSBG
— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) March 18, 2025
Philly’s other major league teams posted their tributes to Graham.
congratulations on a great career, BG! 👊 pic.twitter.com/n7ZUzugVLB
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 18, 2025
A champion on the field and off of it.
Congrats on an iconic career in Philly, @brandongraham55! pic.twitter.com/YzibRYxevd
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 18, 2025
A Philly sports legend.
Congrats on an amazing career, @brandongraham55 🙌#DOOP pic.twitter.com/yKTPDr2n4U
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) March 18, 2025
And in the political world, Philadelphia Mayor Cherrelle Parker and Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro also sent their congratulations.
The NFL listed out Graham’s record-setting accomplishments with the Birds.
Brandon Graham: Forever an Eagle. 🦅
– Played 15 seasons with the Eagles (tied for the most in franchise history)
– 206 regular season games played (most in franchise history)
– 2x Super Bowl Champion
– 76.5 regular season sacks (3rd in franchise history) pic.twitter.com/A3qeqqF9YL
— NFL (@NFL) March 18, 2025
The University of Michigan paid tribute to Graham, a Detroit native whose four seasons as a Wolverine included earning the 2009 Big Ten Most Valuable Player. That body of work landed him in Philly as the 13th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft.
One of the best to ever do it – both on and off the field. Congratulations, @brandongraham55, on an amazing career filled with numerous accolades and legendary moments!
Forever #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/1LYTrNFZZh
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) March 18, 2025
No word yet from fellow Michigan alum Tom Brady, which honestly is just a good excuse to repost the greatest moment in Graham’s career (and maybe the greatest moment for ANY Eagles player ever), the fourth-quarter strip sack that helped Philadelphia lift its first-ever Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2018.
We couldn’t not post this one today… pic.twitter.com/TBxEIF0iI6
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 18, 2025
Graham also took time in his speech to thank and praise Eagles fans for their support throughout his time on the team, before giving his (probably not last) E-AG-L-E-S chant.
“Philly doesn’t just support this team, it lives for them,” he said. “And I feel it, and I see it, and I appreciate every single one of you. Thank you for being the heartbeat of this city.”