Where does Brandon Graham rank among all-time Eagles?

When you look at the all-time Eagles list, you see great defensive players like Reggie White, Chuck Bednarik, Brian Dawkins, Eric Allen, Fletcher Cox, and so many more.

The Eagles’ foundation is built on hard-nosed defenses that will pound you to the ground. That is what they did in the 1960s, in the early 2000s, 2017, and of course 2024.

One name on both Super Bowl rosters is Brandon Graham, who officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday.

A lot of these guys were either high-draft guys or some sneaky picks late in drafts, and they were dominant throughout their careers. While Graham was the 13th overall selection in the 2010 draft out of Michigan, which goes back to the Andy Reid days, his career got off to a sluffing start.

Many considered BG a bust, as he did not live up to the height that both Earl Thomas and Jason Pierre-Paul, the two players taken immediately after him, did in his early years, even up to his fifth season. They were two names Graham constantly heard.

But BG’s determination and persistence turned him into a legend. In 2016, he was a second-team All-Pro, following that up in 2017 with 9.5 sacks, the biggest play in Eagles history, strip-sacking Tom Brady, and securing the Eagles win their first Super Bowl. He followed those two monster years up with 8.5 sacks in 2019, 8.0 in 2020, and a career-high 11 sacks in 2022 after missing the majority of 2021 with a torn Achilles. Before tearing his triceps in Week 12 this season, he had 3.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and seven quarterback hits, and then somehow returned for Super Bowl LIX and ended up retearing his triceps and playing through it at the age of 36.

It is no easy task to do what Graham did, especially in a market such as Philadelphia. He quieted out the haters, was fueled by the doubts, and turned himself into one of the greatest players in Eagles history.

Graham played 15 seasons for the Eagles, a franchise record, 218 regular season and playoff games, which is another franchise record, recorded 153 quarterback hits, 126 tackles for loss, 76.5 sacks, third in Eagles history behind White and Trent Cole, 22 forced fumbles, and won two Super Bowls.

“I gave everything I had,” Graham said in his press conference Tuesday. “I have no regrets.”

Graham was a Pro Bowler in 2020 and did so much more than just dominate on the field.

BG was a vocal leader on and off the field for the Eagles and was always helping in the community. He was the Eagles’ nominee this season for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and probably would have had a better shot at it if it were not for his injury. Graham brought the energy to every game, practice, coin toss, where his best trash talk took place, or even team event in the community. He dapped every reporter up as he walked into the NovaCare Complex media room on Tuesday ahead of his speech, not a lot of players have a positive connection with the media quite like BG did. He had so much juice, care, and respect every single day, even in his 15th season.

A good example of how much BG meant to the city and how much of a part he was in the community is how many people posted pictures on Tuesday that they took with him throughout the years. And he does not plan on going anywhere, as he plans to discuss ways to stay involved in the Eagles’ organization with Jeffrey Lurie.

“My life has been forever changed because of this magical place,” Graham said. “This game has changed my life, but more importantly, this city has changed my life. While my time on the field is coming to an end, my love for this team and city will never fade.”

So, to answer the question of where Brandon Graham ranks among all-time Eagles, right now, I would say absolutely top five. I look at, in no particular order, Reggie White, Jason Kelce, Chuck Bednarick, Brian Dawkins, and BG in that five right now.

Graham’s off-the-field personality and character, along with being flat-out a great player, has him up there for me. He is the best defensive end in franchise history, the longest-tenured player in franchise history, is the only player outside of Lane Johnson, Jake Elliott, and Rick Lovato to win two Super Bowls with the Eagles, and made the biggest play in team history with his strip sack against Brady in Super Bowl LII.

With time, could BG move up on this list? Absolutely. But I will tell you now, Graham will be in the Eagles Hall of Fame very soon, will have a sculpture in Canton, Ohio at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and no Eagle will wear the number 55 ever again.

---

Use code PHILLYSPORTSREPORT for $20 off your first SeatGeek order

Click here to save 10% on any order at FOCO