Brandon Graham’s legacy was sealed in one unforgettable moment.
Super Bowl LII. Eagles vs. Patriots. A high-scoring thriller coming down to the wire. With just over two minutes left and Philadelphia clinging to a 38-33 lead, Tom Brady dropped back-only to be met by Graham, who strip-sacked the future Hall of Famer, delivering the defining play of his career.
“That’s No. 1,” Graham said, reflecting on the moment days after announcing his retirement as the longest-tenured Eagle in franchise history. “That’s the No. 1 play because it changed my career. That moment gave me confidence, and I just got better and better from there.”
For Graham, the road to Eagles immortality wasn’t easy. Drafted 13th overall in 2010 as the first pick of the Howie Roseman era, he struggled early, bouncing between defensive coordinators and recording just 23.5 sacks in his first six seasons. Many labeled him a draft bust.
The difficult path of a legend
Then came the turning point. Under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz in 2016, Graham found his groove. The next season, he became the disruptive force Philadelphia had envisioned-culminating in that legendary Super Bowl play.
From that moment on, he was no longer just a solid starter. He was a hero.
By the time he hung up his cleats, Graham had racked up 76.5 career sacks-third all-time in Eagles history-while also establishing himself as one of the team’s most respected leaders.
Would his career have taken the same trajectory without that fateful hit on Brady? Maybe not. But it did happen. And because of it, Graham’s place in Eagles history is forever cemented.
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