While nothing is official yet, longtime Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham is reportedly mulling the possibility of coming out of retirement to rejoin the team for the 2025 NFL season. The 37-year-old fan favorite, who had previously hung up his cleats after the Eagles’ victory in the most recent Super Bowl, could re-join the team as early as this coming week.
15-Year NFL Veteran Mulling Return To Philadelphia
Graham would be a welcome addition to this year’s team. Philadelphia’s pass rush took major hits during the offseason when both Graham and Josh Sweat left the team, and they’ve endured injuries that have affected their depth along the defensive front. To make matters worse, linebacker Za’Darius Smith announced surprisingly announced his own retirement this past week.
There have been rumblings of the Eagles interest in trading for a pass rusher, but they may be able to add an impact piece without giving up any future draft picks as collateral.
Comeback? #Eagles great Brandon Graham is mulling coming out of retirement, per me and @MikeGarafolo, and the veteran edge could return for a 16th season.
Graham retired after the Super Bowl, but with his old team in need of pass-rush help, he might return as soon as this week. pic.twitter.com/APM0INlChJ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 19, 2025
Philadelphia has had issues at multiple spots on the field so far this season, and getting after the quarterback is one of them. Through their first six games of 2025, the Eagles’ defense has notched just 9 sacks, which ranked 25th in the league, one season after finishing in the middle of the pack during their Super Bowl run.
It remains to be seen just how much Graham has left in the tank, and whether his presence will be enough to elevate the defensive front back to an elite level.
Brandon Graham Is An Eagles Legend
Drafted by the Eagles in 2010, Graham has spent his entire NFL career with the team, becoming one of the most beloved and respected players in franchise history. He owns the Eagles’ all-time record for most regular-season appearances, having suited up in 206 games. His 76.5 career sacks rank third in franchise history. A one-time Pro Bowler in 2020, Graham notched his first season with double-digit sacks in 2022, finishing with 11.
He is perhaps best known for his strip sack of Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII, which helped bring Philadelphia its first ever pro football championship.
