Philly Plain Dealer

Maybe it’s ego. Maybe it’s the sheer inability to walk away from the only life he’s ever known. But whatever it is, it’s clear Brandon Graham isn’t ready for the quiet life.

In a move that defies the typical arc of athletic retirement, Brandon Graham, the formerly-longest-tenured Philadelphia Eagle, has emerged from the shadows of his brief retirement to rejoin the team for a 16th NFL season. At 37 years old, Graham’s decision to return is both a testament to his undying commitment to the midnight green and somewhat baffling.

Graham’s initial retirement came last offseason, following the Eagles Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs–a storybook ending to a 15-year career that had already secured his place in the chronicles of Eagles’ history. In that span, Graham played in three super bowls, securing two rings in the process.

His final season was pockmarked by injuries, including a torn triceps that caused him to miss most of the 2024 season. But this is what happens to old people that play football. I’m 30, and I can’t go for a short jog without hurting my ankle. And when I do get hurt, it hurts for weeks, if not months. I can not imagine playing American football—a sport where every collision is the equivalent of a mild-to-moderate car crash—at my age. But then again, I am not Brandon Graham. But still, his decision to un-retire was surprising.

So, the question is: Why is Brandon Graham doing this? What compels someone who has earned hundreds of millions of dollars to return to a sport that has time and time again proven to be a violent, young man’s game?

Well, if you’ve watched the Eagles this season, you may have noticed their defense is a bit anemic. And by anemic, I mean they are a bottom 10 unit, giving up 350 yards per game. This is at least partly due to the complete lack of a pass rush so far this season: the Eagles have only recorded a paltry 11 sacks through 7 weeks of the season. Their pass rushing woes are further compounded by Za’Darius Smith’s surprise retirement last week, a move that left the Birds even more depleted at one of football’s premier positions.

Like Batman returning to Gotham, BG’s skillset is desperately needed. Whether he can continue to produce at his age is the big question. Still, his decision to come back at all should be praised. It is grit manifested to want to put the pads on after 15 years, multiple championships, and even more heartbreaks. It’s a testament to Brandon Graham’s toughness and dedication to the city of Philadelphia.Regardless of his ability to get to the Quarterback, BG’s presence in the locker room will undeniably provide a much-needed veteran leader.

So maybe that’s the answer. Some players retire when their bodies give out; others hang it up when the game leaves them behind. But Brandon Graham has always been different. He’s not coming back for money or headlines; he’s coming back because he can’t stand to watch his team struggle without him. Because some part of him still believes that he has a bit more of himself left to give to a city that he’s already given everything to. That if he puts his hand in the dirt one more time, he can put Philadelphia on his back once more. And if that’s not brotherly love, what is?