With uncertainty surrounding free agent acquisition Jonathan Greenard entering the regular season, questions of whether the Philadelphia Eagles could bring back veteran defensive end Brandon Graham have resurfaced. Graham came out of retirement to return to the Eagles last October.
The 38-year-old has made his decision about the 2026 season much earlier this year. However, he will not be returning.
NBC Philadelphia’s John Clark reported Graham announced Tuesday morning he will not play this season. Instead, he will retire again.
Brandon Graham announced that he is officially done this morning. He is retired after 16 seasons,” wrote Clark on X.
“He said this at a Jefferson Health even this morning in Philly.”
Graham is retiring after 16 NFL seasons, all of which he spent with the Eagles. He won two Super Bowls with the club, made the Pro Bowl and earned a second-team All-Pro nomination.
Brandon Graham Officially Retires From NFL Again
Graham could always unretire as he did last season. But no one appeared to be pushing the veteran defensive end into making a decision this week.
It sounds as though he is ready for his playing career to be done.
Graham originally retired after the team’s Super Bowl victory in February 2025. At the time, he stressed how he wanted to end his career as a Super Bowl champion.
Graham, though, emphasized when he returned last fall that no matter what happened with his comeback, he would always be a two-time champion. Graham also returned to try and help the Eagles win back-to-back championships.
The defensive end will retire as one of only four players with two Eagles Super Bowl rings. The other three are right tackle Lane Johnson, kicker Jake Elliott and long snapper Rick Lovato.
Graham was a solid contributor for years with the Eagles after he joined the team in 2010. He started double digit games for the first time in 2015. Graham then became an All-Pro during his first full year as a starter during 2016.
The Eagles won their first Super Bowl the following season in 2017. During that campaign, Graham posted 9.5 sacks.
Graham made his only Pro Bowl in 2020 when he registered eight sacks. He set a new career-best with 11 sacks at 34 years old in 2022. The Eagles won the NFC championship that season but lost in the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Graham was no longer in the starting lineup the last few years with the team. From 2023-25, he posted a modest three sacks per season.
He will retire with 79.5 sacks, 128 tackles for loss, 156 quarterback hits and 11 pass defenses in 215 games.
Will Jonathan Greenard Play in Week 1?
Greenard avoided the PUP list when the Eagles had to make their final roster decisions on August 30. But that’s about where the good news ends with Philadelphia’s new edge rusher.
Greenard remains questionable for Week 1 because of a pectoral injury. He sustained the ailment while lifting weights in July.
There’s extra concern around the injury because Greenard is trying to return from a left shoulder issue last season which led to season-ending surgery.
The fact the defensive end avoided the PUP list is an indication the Eagles see Greenard returning by Week 4. But his status for Sunday’s season opener is very much in doubt.
If Greenard can’t play, fellow offseason additions Arnold Ebiketie and A.J. Epenesa could play a lot more behind Nolan Smith Jr. and Jalyx Hunt.
Eagles’ Brandon Graham Makes Final Decision on Potential 2026 Return: Report