Brandon Graham is officially retired from football, but not from the Philadelphia Eagles. Not in spirit, not in purpose, and definitely not in presence. The former defensive end, who became the soul of the locker room over 14 seasons, already knows where he wants to plug in next. The Eagles, of course, have a blueprint for this. Former players like Connor Barwin and Brent Celek have returned in roles that helped shape the team’s culture off the field. Graham fits that mold, only louder, funnier, and maybe more hands-on.
During the June 25 episode of The Philly Special Show, he said, “It’ll definitely be in the player development role. I really do love seeing guys take their next leap in their career.” That’s not a courtesy answer. It’s a man with a plan. He’s talking about more than football drills. He’s talking about mindset.
About helping young players find their identity before the league decides it for them. “We call it the basement mentality,” Graham explained. “The one where you’re in the basement, you head down, you working, nobody sees, nobody’s looking for you, nobody’s calling your name.” That’s where he came from. That’s who he wants to coach now. Not just future stars, but overlooked, doubted, and undrafted.
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Graham brought up a specific example, Zack Baun. A name that meant little to most fans when he joined. “He came in as a special teams guy in everybody’s mind,” Graham said. “But then he ended up being a key piece of why the defense was out there balling. He got us lined up, got us ready to go. It was fun to watch just to see his growth.” That joy in someone else’s success is exactly what makes Graham a natural fit for player development. He knows the arc. He respects the grind.
That’s the kind of transformation he wants to be part of. Not just for feel-good moments, but because it’s the fabric of the Eagles’ identity. Graham’s already passed that test in his career. He was doubted and nearly traded. And now he’s one of the most beloved Eagles of all time. That’s why he still takes shots at the rivals.
Brandon Graham is an Eagles loyalist
Last year, the Commanders stunned everyone by charging deep into the playoffs, only to be crushed by the Eagles. The Eagles then soared to a Super Bowl LIX title, their second in franchise history. And standing tall through both rings? Brandon Graham. The emotional cornerstone of the defense. Now retired, now unfiltered, and clearly still watching.
So when the Commanders went out and added Deebo Samuel this offseason, Graham had thoughts. At DeVonta Smith’s celebrity softball game, the 36-year-old didn’t hold back. “I wouldn’t worry about him,” he quipped. “He gotta be in shape first. He don’t look like he in shape right now.” That’s not random shade.
To be fair, Samuel’s 2024 season was a mixed bag. He posted 51 receptions for 670 yards and three touchdowns, not numbers that scream ‘washed’, but far from his All-Pro peak. He played through pneumonia, rib and calf injuries, and by most accounts, carried an extra 20 pounds throughout the year. Graham’s dig hit on more than just body fat; it struck at effort, at hunger. Philly doesn’t forget, and it sure doesn’t forgive softness in a rival.
If Samuel comes back shredded and explosive, Brandon Graham’s going to have to eat that line publicly. But if the Commanders stumble and Samuel looks sluggish, that quote becomes a meme. And in this rivalry, memes matter. Because Philly-Washington isn’t just a game. It’s culture.
For Brandon Graham, this is all muscle memory. Trash talk, media timing, psychological warfare, it’s all part of the offseason art. He’s retired. But still working. Just in a different way now.
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