OCTOBER 20: Graham is expected to be back in the fold “soon,” per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. He adds thoughts about a return to action in this case predate Za’Darius Smith’s retirement. As such, a trade for pass rush help could certainly still be in store regardless of the role Graham plays in 2025.
OCTOBER 19: Retired defensive end and Eagles icon Brandon Graham is mulling a return to the team. Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network were the first to report the news, and they confirm Graham and Philadelphia brass have had conversations about a comeback.
This is not a terribly surprising development. Less than a month after announcing his retirement in March, Graham left the door open to a possible return, saying he was “90 percent retired.” While he did clarify that he intended to keep his cleats in the closet, there was speculation at the time that the 2010 first-rounder could rejoin the only club he has ever known to aid in another championship push.
Now 37, Graham is the longest-tenured Eagle in franchise history, having played for the team for 15 seasons. He was part of both of Philadelphia’s Super Bowl-winning outfits, and his strip-sack of then-Patriots QB Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII has become an enduring image in Eagles lore.
Nostalgia aside, the Eagles would welcome Graham’s on- and off-field presence. After a 4-0 start to the 2025 season, the team has lost two in a row, and Rapoport and Garafolo characterize the team’s locker room as “splintered.” Graham has long been respected as a steadying influence and leader among both defensive and offensive players, which the club could use at the moment.
This offseason, Graham retired, Josh Sweat left in free agency, and Bryce Huff was traded to the 49ers. That left the Eagles with a number of question marks in the pass rush department, and as of the time of this writing, the team’s nine sacks are the eighth-fewest in the NFL. Those troubles have been exacerbated by Za’Darius Smith’s surprise retirement and the fact that both Nolan Smith and Ogbo Okoronkwo are on injured reserve.
From a raw statistics perspective, Graham was never a dominant pass rusher, as he reached double-digit sacks just once in his lengthy career. He could nonetheless stabilize the team’s play along the edge, but even if he returns, it would be fair to expect GM Howie Roseman to continue exploring the trade market for pass rush help.