For Brandon Graham, one play in Super Bowl LII didn’t just earn him a ring-it rewrote his entire story in Philadelphia.
For Eagles fans it was the moment that sealed their first-ever Lombardi Trophy. With one perfectly timed swipe at the GOAT himself, Graham didn’t just make history-he finally silenced years of criticism and cemented his legacy as a Philly legend.
“Well, you know, it’s that Tom Brady moment,” Graham said with a grin. “It changed my whole career as far as my trajectory.”
Redemption on the biggest stage
Super Bowl LII will forever be remembered as one of the most electrifying title games in NFL history. The Eagles and Patriots traded blows in a relentless shootout that had fans glued to their screens.
But with just under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, and the Patriots trailing 38-33, the narrative felt familiar. Tom Brady had the ball, and the football world braced for yet another miraculous comeback from the greatest to ever do it.
Then Brandon Graham happened. Bursting through New England’s offensive line, Graham executed a game-changing strip-sack on Brady, knocking the ball loose. Eagles rookie Derek Barnett pounced on the fumble, and the momentum officially shifted.
The Eagles would go on to win 41-33, and Graham’s name would be forever tied to the most iconic play in franchise history.
“That play gave me confidence,” Graham said during an appearance on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams. “I unblocked a lot of people for Philly-for all the stuff they gave me in the beginning for not being Earl Thomas.”
When the Eagles drafted Graham 13th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft, some fans immediately questioned the pick. Safety Earl Thomas-selected one spot later-was viewed by many as the better fit. The criticism lingered for years, even as Graham carved out a role on the team. But that play against Brady? It was a long-overdue moment of redemption.
A legacy sealed with mutual respect
Fast forward to December 2024. Before a regular season matchup between the Eagles and Steelers, Graham found himself on the same field as Tom Brady once again.
Though Brady had long since retired, the two shared a light-hearted moment that captured just how much had changed.
Graham crept up behind Brady and mimed the strip-sack one more time.
“I just wanted to do that one more time!” he joked, grabbing Brady’s shoulders.
Brady turned with a smirk and responded: “How’re you gonna do me like that? Let me do it to you!”
He playfully returned the favor, grabbing Graham in a mock tackle, before telling him: “It couldn’t have happened to a better guy.”
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