Today is the 11-month anniversary of Eagles defensive end and franchise legend Brandon Graham announcing his retirement. It proved to be a brief exit for Graham, who rejoined the Eagles in late October.
With Graham now a pending free agent who’s set to turn 38 in April, there are once again questions about his future this offseason. It doesn’t appear Graham is ready to go back into retirement for good, though. The career-long Eagle has interest in returning in 2026, Zach Berman of The Athletic reports.
Since going 13th overall in the 2010 draft, Graham has climbed to the top of the Eagles’ all-time games played list (215) over 16 years. The Michigan product is now a two-time Super Bowl champion and a one-time Pro Bowler who’s third in franchise history in sacks (79.5).
Despite logging just 113 defensive snaps in 2025, Graham chipped in three sacks over a nine-game span. His return helped make up for the in-season loss of another grizzled pass rusher in Za’Darius Smith, who retired 10 days before Graham came back. Graham also filled in at a previously foreign position, defensive tackle, when Jalen Carter was on the shelf for most of December with injuries to both shoulders.
In coming off the couch last fall, Graham raked in a prorated $4.9MM for a half-season of work. Another one-year deal at an affordable price will be in order if he keeps playing. With fellow edge options Jaelan Phillips (the team’s top free agent-to-be), Joshua Uche, Azeez Ojulari and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo also among the Eagles’ pending free agents, they may have added incentive to retain Graham as capable depth. For now, the Eagles are dangerously low on choices behind Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith.