Lost amid the Philadelphia Eagles‘ sudden and surprising playoff exit was the fact Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers could be the end of Brandon Graham’s storied career.
Yet, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, Graham may not be done just yet.
Garafolo gave an update about Graham’s future and stated he “had the look and sound of a guy that has football left” to play.
Graham, of course, came out of retirement in October and returned to the Eagles defense in their game against the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 10. Graham posted three sacks and eight tackles, with two tackles for loss, in nine games, while helping the Eagles finish fifth in the league in points-against per game (19.1) and 13th in yards-against per game (314.2) in their 11-6 season.
After his viral letter to the city that ran in Philly Voice on Sunday, Graham played seven defensive snaps and four on special teams in the Eagles’ 23-19 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.
Brandon Graham May Be Coming Back To The Philadelphia Eagles
Graham is going to be 38 in April and already retired after the Eagles’ 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. But according to Garafolo, it sounds like Graham is fired up to return for his 17th NFL season in 2026.
“He’ll take time to think but don’t assume that’s it for his career,” Garafolo shared on X (formerly Twitter) about his postgame conversation with Graham. “His body responded well and he felt he was just getting into a groove down the stretch.”
Graham admitted part of his reason for retiring after the 2024 season was because of his arduous recovering from a torn triceps muscle, which he sustained in the Eagles’ Week 11 win over the Los Angeles Rams then reaggravated in the Super Bowl.
Yet, he rehabbed and came out of retirement midseason and held his own despite his age and the fact he got a late start to the season.
The Eagles Have Decisions To Make On Defense
Much of the discourse Monday was about Philadelphia’s floundering offense, and you can be sure GM Howie Roseman will be sure to address the ineffective side of the ball.
But the Eagles defense will require some attention as well and not just whether to bring back Graham — though Roseman is sure to find the funds to re-up the veteran if he wants to return.
Aside from Graham, cornernback Adoree Jackson, defensive ends Jaelan Phillips, Joshua Uche and Azeez Ojulari, linebacker Nakobe Dean and safety Reed Blankenship are all free agents that will surely command raises.
Phillips is likely to be too rich for the Eagles to re-sign, since they acquired him as a rental from the Miami Dolphins for a third-round pick at the trade deadline. Phillips had a profound impact on the Eagles defense, since they allowed just 14.6 points per game in his eight games after the deal.
But Phillips is a first-time free agent and should be looking to cash in on that impact, which is known league-wide.
Jackson is almost surely gone, since he struggled opposite Quinyon Mitchell. But you can be sure Eagles fans, and Roseman, will want to re-sign Blankenship and Dean, since each has been an influential player on their defense.
Eagles Get Update on Veteran Brandon Graham After Wild Card Loss to 49ers