Fitting End

Smart phone in hand, Brandon Graham paraded around the winning locker room buried deep within the confines of the Caesars Superdome.

A veteran of 15 NFL seasons, Graham basked in the glow of his second world championship. Returning well ahead of the projected timeline that typically accompanies a torn triceps, Graham bet on himself, seeing it through to the end with his signature infectious smile and thundering cackle.

It proved to be a fairy tale ending for the Eagles’ mainstay who was drafted in the first round in 2010, as Graham contributed 13 snaps and a stop in the 40-22 thrashing of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

As fate would have it, there would be no more quarterbacks to hunt and offensive linemen to playfully — and unrelentingly— antagonize.

GETTY IMAGES: After 15 years and two Super Bowl wins, Brandon Graham retired Wednesday.

There would be no more huddles to break and no more animated coin-flip interactions at midfield.

It was the thirst for another title that fueled Graham, expediting his return and rallying teammates along the way.

We also learned that Graham re-tore the same triceps injury from 11 weeks prior in the Super Bowl, setting the stage for another arduous comeback for the 36-year-old.

The inevitable revealed itself Tuesday afternoon, with Graham holding a news conference at team headquarters.

The podium backdrop included a towel and a Lombardi Trophy on each side of the table. The reserved seating, which eventually included head coach Nick Sirianni, personnel chief Howie Roseman, quarterback Jalen Hurts and Graham’s parents — his mother wore her son’s jersey — further illustrated the gravity of what would transpire in a matter of moments.

Donning a faded denim jacket and his typical wide grin, Graham eventually made his way down the corridor of the NovaCare Complex auditorium, dapping up each and every media representative in attendance.

It was the end of the line for Graham, who led a decorated career while touching the lives of many and positively impacting every person with whom he crossed paths.

“I gave it everything I have,” said an emotional Graham in his opening statement. “I have no regrets.”

There’s a lesson to be learned from his story. Third in franchise history with 76.5 sacks, Graham, who arrived in Philadelphia at age 22, proved that it isn’t how you start, but rather how you finish.

Drafted to Philadelphia with elevated expectations out of the University of Michigan, Graham’s career start yielded underwhelming returns, his first two seasons producing only three sacks.

Undersized and seemingly underwhelmed by a city starved for a world championship and instantaneous results, Graham had already convinced many that he was on a path to fall vicim to the dreaded bust label that plagues so many young NFL players.

The names Earl Thomas and Jason Pierre-Paul were frequently mentioned as players the Eagles could have secured with the No. 13 pick instead.

“When they put that bust label on me, that was tough,” Graham said. “I didn’t want to go outside. I didn’t want to do nothing.”

There were injures, including to his ACL and Achilles, in addition to the triceps tear, any of which could have altered the course of Graham’s legacy.

And there was also the questionable scheme fit that temporarily displaced Graham under the Chip Kelly era.

But as Graham grew and matured, navigating through rough patches, he took it all in stride. He controlled what he could, conveying a positive attitude and optimistic outlook through adversity.

Rather than take the road more frequently traveled, rather than duck and run for potentially greener pastures, Graham stuck it out in Philadelphia, a city that, for athletes, is hardly for the faint of hearts.

He’d become unflappable and unwavering for his passion and love for the city, eventually growing into a spokesman role of sorts and a symbolizing a pillar of stability for the franchise.

“We didn’t start so tight,” Graham began when discussing the city of Philadelphia. “You made me work for this, and I appreciate you for that.

“Through the struggles, the energy and the moment where I had to prove myself over and over again, you never let me get comfortable. You held me accountable. You kept that chip on my shoulder. You pushed me to be better — and when the time came — we celebrated together. Two times.”

Standing at the back of the room was third-year pro Nolan Smith, who shares a close relationship with Graham.

“This is your room,” Graham shared in his message to Smith. “Now you the guy. You the oldest guy in that room.”

Looking back on the 2024 season, one of the storylines that stands out was Graham’s impact on the younger players in his room, like Smith and third-rounder Jalyx Hunt.

Tuesday afternoon felt like a passing of the torch, and Graham has undeniably left the franchise better than how he found it.

It’s tough to provide an overview of Graham’s storied career without reminiscing about his strip-sack of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, dropping the Hall of Famer for a seven-yard loss at the 26, the fumble corralled by then-Eagles rookie Derek Barnett.

The play, for all intents and purposes, secured the Eagles’ first Super Bowl win, cementing Graham — the player who had long ago been written off — as an iconic figure in franchise lore.

Seven years later, in the locker room after Super Bowl LIX, Graham held that phone in his hand.

On the other end of that FaceTime was legendary Eagles left tackle and future Hall of Famer Jason Peters, with whom Graham stayed close.

The moment, captured in a photo, served as a reminder of the players who played a prominent part in paving the way for the franchise’s sustained excellence.

Had the Eagles not finished the season with another world championship, Graham would have lobbied for one final season to leave on a high note.

The storybook ending, however, proved to be the final chapter in the career of a franchise great. And the Eagles are in a better place than when Graham found it 15 years ago.

Fittingly, in typical Graham fashion, he pulled at the heartstrings of Eagles fans everywhere as he wrapped his 10-minute news conference.

“E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles,” he said. “Fly Eagles Fly. My last one  – B.G. out, baby!”

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com