Breaking News: Philadelphia Eagles’ Defense Faces Changes as Brandon Graham Considers Comeback After Retirement
Exciting updates from the Philadelphia Eagles! As the team prepares for their Week 7 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, the defense is experiencing some shifts. Following the unexpected retirement of Za’Darius Smith after their recent loss to the New York Giants, the Eagles may soon welcome back veteran defensive end Brandon Graham.
Graham, who is 37 years old, originally retired after helping the Eagles secure victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. His remarkable 15-season tenure with Philadelphia makes him the longest-serving player in the franchise’s history, and there’s a chance he could return for a 16th season if a new contract is finalized. According to ESPN, Graham is "strongly considering" coming out of retirement to rejoin the Eagles’ defensive lineup.
Drafted in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft from the University of Michigan, Graham didn’t start as a full-time player right away. It took him several seasons to solidify his position as a dependable pass-rusher for the Eagles. He earned his first and only Pro Bowl selection in 2020, recording eight sacks that season. Unfortunately, a torn Achilles in Week 2 of the 2021 season sidelined him for the remainder of the year. However, he made a strong comeback in 2022, playing all 17 games and achieving a career-high of 11 sacks. Over his impressive career, Graham has accumulated 76.5 sacks and 487 total tackles, contributing to two Super Bowl-winning teams.
With Smith’s retirement impacting the Eagles’ depth in the front seven, Graham’s potential return could provide a much-needed boost to the defense. The current starting linebackers include Azeez Ojulari, Zack Baun, Nakobe Dean, and Jalyx Hunt, while the second-string options feature Josh Uche, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., and Patrick Johnson.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
