 Graham with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 54, 55 | |||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | (1988-04-03)April 3, 1988 (age 36) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 265 lb (120 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Crockett (Detroit, Michigan) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | Michigan (2006–2009) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2010: 1st round, 13th pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||||||
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Brandon Lee Graham (born April 3, 1988)[1] is an American former professionalfootballdefensive end who spent his entire 15-year career with thePhiladelphia Eagles of theNational Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Eagles in the first round of the2010 NFL draft with the thirteenth selection in the draft and the first from theBig Ten Conference. He was an All-Americancollege football player at theUniversity of Michigan.
In high school, he was a highly decorated and highly ratedlinebacker who served ascaptain for the 2006U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He was listed on numerous All-American lists and was a finalist for some of the highest individual honors ahigh school football player can earn.
Graham was the2009 Big Ten Conference co-MVP as recognized by theChicago Tribune Silver Football award. He was the 2009 FBStackles for a loss (per game) champion after finishing second in 2008 by 0.01 tackles for loss per game. He was the 2008 and 2009 Big Ten Conference tackles for loss leader. After completing his career as defensive end for the2009 Michigan Wolverines football team, he had a total of 29.5 careersacks and 56 career tackles for loss for theMichigan Wolverines football team. In 2008, he led theBig Ten Conference in tackles for loss, with 20 in 11 games. In 2009, he posted 26 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks in 12 games. As a member of the2008 Michigan Wolverines football team he earned Second-team2008 Big Ten All-conference recognition from both the coaches and the media.[2] He was a finalist for the2009 NCAA Division I FBS footballHendricks Award. He was a First-team 2009 All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media.[3] He was named to several First-team and Second-team2009 All-America lists by various publications. Graham was also named MVP of the2010 Senior Bowl.
Graham was a second team2016 All-Pro selection and a2020 Pro Bowl selection. He led theSuper Bowl LII championPhiladelphia Eagles inquarterback sacks with 9.5 during the2017 NFL season. Graham is responsible for one of the biggest plays in Philadelphia sports history, as he posted a pivotal strip sack onTom Brady in the closing minutes ofSuper Bowl LII, which was the franchise's first Super Bowl victory. He was also a member of the2024 team which wonSuper Bowl LIX. Graham has played more games for the Eagles than any other player.[4]
As a youth, Graham played football for thePolice Athletic League Detroit Giants for seven years until joining the eighth grade team.[5] Born and raised in Detroit, Graham attended Crockett Vocational Tech, a school that began participating inMichigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) football competitions in 1996 and that did not have a properlocker room for its football team before moving in his senior season. Since the football field had no lights, parents had to shine their car lights on the field for late practices.[6] At Crockett, Graham, who had been playing competitive football since age seven,[7] was expected to make an immediate impact upon joining the football team's starting lineup as a sophomore,[8] and at the end of the season he was recognized as an honorable mention lineman 2003 All-Detroit selection byThe Detroit News.[9]
As a junior, Graham served aslinebacker,offensive guard,placekicker, andpunter for his team, and he led his team to the MHSAA state championships, while becoming one of three juniors named to the 2004 First-team All-Detroit team with one source listing him as a placekicker and the other as a linebacker on the team.[7][10][11] Crockett wonDetroit Public School League Division 1 championship game atFord Field and entered the Division 5 MHSAA semifinals with a 12–0 record, but Crockett lost 9–0 to defending state championLumen Christi Catholic School.[6][12] In addition to recording 91tackles (20 for a loss), he maintained a 3.8grade point average.[11] In one game, he posted twelve tackles, foursacks, four forcedfumbles, two blockedpunts and scored on a 78-yard fake punt.[13] He was selected for theAssociated Press first-team Class B all-state team as a linebacker.[14]
In high school,Rivals.com ranked Graham as the top class of 2006high school football prospect in the state of Michigan, the number twoinside linebacker prospect and the overall fifteenth best prospect in the nation.[15]Scout.com listed him as the number three linebacker in the nation and described him as the number one overall prospect in themidwest.[16] Scout also described him as "arguably the best inside linebacker in the nation".[17]ESPNU ranked him as the number two inside linebacker and number thirty-one prospect in the nation.[18] Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, listed Graham as the best linebacker in the country forUSA Today.[19]The Atlanta Journal-Constitution listed him at 15th among their national top 25 prospects.[20]
Entering his senior season, he was the overwhelming selection as the best high school football player in the state of Michigan according toThe Detroit News.[7] He had run a 4.43-second40-yard dash at the Nike Summer football camp.[7] As a senior, he intended to also playtight end andfullback.[7] OneDetroit News preseason analysts listed him at linebacker, tight end and offensive guard.[21] During the season, after missing four weeks to a knee injury, Graham was chosen as one of 78 players to participate in the January 7, 2006U.S. Army All-American Bowl at theAlamodome. He was also named as a finalist for both theParadeAll-America High School player of the year (The high school equivalent of theHeisman Trophy) and theWalter Payton Trophy.[22][23] He was elected captain of the East team at the U.S. ArmyAll-American Bowl and recorded four tackles as well as a blocked field goal in the game that also featured two of his Michigan teammates: (Justin Boren andStevie Brown).[24][25] There were only 16 finalists for the Parade award, including future Michigan teammateStephen Schilling and future Heisman-winnerTim Tebow.[26] Graham led his team to a rematch against Lumen Christi, which they lost 35–21 in the MHSAA Division 5 district championship game.[27] In Graham's three years at Crockett, they went undefeated in the regular season and as a senior he was again selected to the All-Detroit first-team as a linebacker.[28] Graham was also selected as to the Associated Press Class B All-State football team as its player of the year.[29]The Detroit News selected him to the All-Class state Dream Team.[30] He was also selected as the All-class statewide best linebacker as part of the inaugural class of The Michigan Prep Football Great 8 awarded by the Mid-Michigan Touchdown Club for being best at his position in the state.[31] By his senior year, he had a 3.2 grade point average.[24]
Since Graham was the first Michigan athlete to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, he was not aware that he was violating Michigan state rules by participating in an out-of-state all-star game. He had to surrender his high school athletic eligibility for the winter and spring seasons. During his time away from athletics, he overate and added 40 pounds (18 kg). Although he had been recruited as a linebacker, with the additional weight he was moved to defensive end. As he lost the excess weight he began to realize that he could excel at a lighter weight.[32]
For his athletic excellence, Graham received many honors. Among the recognition he received are Parade Magazine All-American,EA Sports All-American,USA TodayAll-USA High School All-America first team (No. 14 player in the nation by USA Today), MichiganGatorade Player of the Year, first player from the state of Michigan to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, 2005 Detroit News No. 1 Blue Chip prospect, and No. 2 on the Detroit Free Press Best of the Midwest rankings.[1] Additionally, he was recognized as one of ten top prep athletes in Michigan in 2005–2006, including men and women from all sports, as a 2006McDonald's-Powerade Tomorrow's Winners honoree at theMichigan Sports Hall of Fame dinner.[33]
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Graham LB | Detroit, Michigan | Crockett Vocational Tech (MI) | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 250.5 lb (113.6 kg) | 4.65 | Feb 20, 2005 |
Star ratings:Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 86 | ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings:Scout:3 (LB) Rivals:15, 2 (ILB), 1 (MI) ESPN:31, 2 (ILB) | ||||||
Sources:
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Graham arrived at Michigan measuring 295 pounds (134 kg) and 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m).[34] Graham was initially listed as a linebacker at Michigan,[35] but before the2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season started for the2006 Michigan Wolverines football team he switched todefensive end.[36] Graham was (along withGreg Matthews,Carlos Brown,Brandon Minor, andStevie Brown) one of five true freshmen to play in the season opening game.[37] Graham was the backup for 2006Lombardi Award and 2006Ted Hendricks Award winnerLaMarr Woodley.[34] Graham also performed as a reservedefensive tackle during the season.[38] Graham made his first tackle for Michigan on October 28 againstNorthwestern and recorded his first sack and forced fumble on November 11 againstIndiana.[1]
As the2007 Michigan Wolverines football team prepared for the2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, Graham got some unusual news off the field when he found out that he had been given a perfect 99 rating in the NCAA 2008EA Sports even though his star teammatesChad Henne,Jake Long andMike Hart had not.[39] Also, off the field, Graham was issued a ticket playing loud music in a vehicle on July 24 and missed the September 18 court date after pleading not guilty. This caused a judge to issue anarrest warrant for failing to appear in court on adisorderly conduct charge.[40] The charges were dropped under the belief that he had been misidentified.[41] At the start of training camp, he weighed 262 pounds (119 kg) and was the projected starter at defensive end.[34][42] Although projected to as the starter, Graham played sparingly inthe opening game loss totwo-time defending FCS championsAppalachian State Mountaineers on September 1.Head coachLloyd Carr noted his disfavor with Graham at the start of the season: "Brandon, he needs to get focused," Carr said, "and do the things that he's capable of doing."[43] He was disappointed in Graham's efforts in practice.[44] In the third game, on September 15 againstNotre Dame Graham recorded 3.5 sacks in therivalry game to help lead Michigan to its first win of the season.[45] The following week, he had 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a victory againstPenn State.[46] Over the course of the season, he started six games at defensive end.[47] He led the team in sacks with 8.5 and was second in forced fumbles with 3.[1] He ranked seventh in the Big Ten for both statistics.[48] He was a mid-season Ted Hendricks Award watch list candidate.[49]
Graham, who had been troubled by conditioning issues the prior season arrived at spring practice in very good shape, which pleased newly arrived head coachRich Rodriguez,[50] who was welcomed by a defensive line composed entirely of returning starters, including Graham.[51] Graham began the2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season as a Hendricks award watch list candidate for the2008 Michigan Wolverines football team.[52] However, the team began the season unranked in theAssociated Press poll for the first time in 23 years.[53] On September 27 Graham had 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles against theWisconsin Badgers,[54] and he was named Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week.[55] Prior to the October 25Paul Bunyan Trophy game againstMichigan State, Graham guaranteed a victory. Although the team lost 35–21, Graham again recorded three sacks.[56] Graham finished the season with 10 sacks.[57] He led the Big Ten with 20 tackles for a loss and 1.82 tackles for loss per game and was second with 0.91 sacks/game.[58] He ranked second nationally in tackles for loss and tied for eleventh in sacks.[59][60] After the season, he was recognized as a 2008 Second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection by both the coaches and the media.[2] Graham was selected as the teamMost Valuable Player.[61]
Graham began the2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season as a watch lists candidate for theBednarik Award, Hendricks Award,Lombardi Award,Lott Trophy, andNagurski Trophy for the2009 Michigan Wolverines football team.[62] He was also selected byESPN as the 10th best player in the Big Ten Conference before the season started.[63] He concluded the season as theChicago Tribune Silver Football recipient as the Big Ten co-MVP (withDaryll Clark). He was the seventh defensive player to earn the award and second in the last 25 years as well as the first co-recipient.[64] Graham was the first player from a losing team in eight years and only the second player to win who was not eitherBig Ten offensive or defensive player of the year.[65] He posted 26 tackles for loss in 12 games, which led the nation with 2.17 average tackles for a loss per game (ahead of conference rivalO'Brien Schofield who was second with 1.884).[66][67] His total of 10.5 sacks ranked fourth in the Big Ten Conference.[67] Four times during the season, he recorded multiple sack games and he had three solo tackles for losses in four games. He ended his career at Michigan with 9 tackles for losses (8 solo and 2 assists) in his final two games, including a career-high 5 solo tackles for losses againstOhio State in the 2009rivalry game, which was the final game of his career.[68] Graham was one of seven finalists for the Hendricks Award.[69] At the conclusion of the season he was a 2009 First-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media.[3] He was a First-team2009 College Football All-America Team selection byESPN,Rivals.com andScout.com,[70][71][72] and he was a Second-teamAll-American defensive line selection by theWalter Camp Football Foundation,Associated Press,Sports Illustrated,College Football News andThe Sporting News.[73][74][75][76][77] He was an honorable mention All-American byPro Football Weekly (which had no second team).[78] Graham was again selected as the team MVP,[79] which made him the school's first defensive player to be two-time MVP.[1] As of December 2009, Graham was the only Big Ten player onMel Kiper Jr.'s "Big Board" Top 25.[65] Brandon Graham earned MVP honors at the January 30,2010 Senior Bowl with five tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble.[80]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft1+3⁄8 in (1.86 m) | 268 lb (122 kg) | 32+1⁄4 in (0.82 m) | 9+7⁄8 in (0.25 m) | 4.72 s | 1.65 s | 2.77 s | 4.25 s | 7.01 s | 31.5 in (0.80 m) | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) | 31 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine/Pro Day[81][82] | ||||||||||||
At theNFL Combine, Graham ranked 8th among defensive linemen with a 4.7240-yard dash and 10th in thebench press with 31.[83][84]
ThePhiladelphia Eagles selected Graham in the first round (13th overall) of the2010 NFL draft.[85] The Philadelphia Eagles acquired the selection after trading their first round pick (24th overall), third round pick (70th overall), and an additional third round pick (87th overall) to theDenver Broncos. Graham was the first defensive andBig Ten Conference player selected in the 2010 NFL Draft.[86] He decided to wear number 94 for the Eagles immediately after the draft,[87] but changed his mind and chose number 54.[88]
On July 29, 2010, the Eagles signed Graham to a five-year, $16.90 million contract that includes $12.67 million guaranteed.[89] Graham entered training camp slated as a starting defensive end. Head coachAndy Reid named Graham andTrent Cole the starting defensive ends to begin the regular season.[90]
He made his professional regular season debut and first career start in the Eagles' season-opener against theGreen Bay Packers, but did not record a statistic during their 27–20 loss. The following week, he recorded two solo tackles and made his first career sack during a 35–32 win at theDetroit Lions on Lions' quarterbackShaun Hill for a two-yard loss during the first quarter.[91] On November 28, 2010, Graham collected a season-high three solo tackles and made one sack during a 31–26 loss at theChicago Bears in Week 12. On December 12, 2010, Graham suffered a tornanterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during 30–27 victory at theDallas Cowboys in Week 14. On December 14, 2010, the Philadelphia Eagles placed Graham on theinjured reserve list.[92] He underwentmicrofracture surgery on his right knee on December 21.[93]
He was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list on July 28, 2011, before the start of training camp.[94] He was removed from the physically unable to perform list so he could return to practice on October 24 and was activated on November 5, 2011.[95]
In the 2012 season, Graham appeared in 16 games and started six. He finished with 5.5 sacks, 38 total tackles, one pass defended, and two forced fumbles.[96]
In 2013, he moved from defensive end tolinebacker.[97][98] Many people had predicted he would become a linebacker at the professional level back when he was still in college.[99] He finished the 2013 season with three sacks, 20 total tackles, and one forced fumble in 16 games.[100]
In the 2014 season, Graham finished with 5.5 sacks, 47 total tackles, and four forced fumbles in 16 games and one start.[101] His four forced fumbles finished fourth in the NFL.[102]
After coming close to signing with theNew York Giants in 2015, Graham signed a 4-year $26 million contract with $14 million guaranteed with the Eagles to remain with the team.[103] In the 2015 season, Graham finished with 6.5 sacks, 51 total tackles, and one pass defended in 16 games and ten starts.[104]
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He posted 59 tackles, two forced fumbles, and 5.5 sacks for the2016 Philadelphia Eagles.[105] Following the2016 NFL season, in which he moved back to defensive end under new defensive coordinatorJim Schwartz, he was named to the2016 All-Pro 2nd Team by the Associated Press.[106] He was also named a first team All-Pro byPro Football Focus and All-National Football Conference (NFC) by thePro Football Writers Association.[107][108] and was rated as the ninth best player in the NFL[109] by Pro Football Focus. He was ranked 93rd by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2017.[110]
In his 2017 season debut, he recorded four tackles, two sacks, and a pass deflection in the Eagles' 30–17 win over theWashington Redskins.[111] He earned multiple performance bonuses for the2017 Philadelphia Eagles when he posted 9.5 sacks and 47 tackles.[112] His 9.5 sacks led the team and were a career-high.[113][114] During the2017–18 NFL playoffs, he tallied two tackles for a loss in the final drive against theAtlanta Falcons on January 13.[115] With 2:21 remaining in the fourth quarter ofSuper Bowl LII, he strip sackedTom Brady, forcing a fumble recovered by teammateDerek Barnett. The Eagles won 41–33.[116][117]
On May 16, 2018, it was revealed that Graham underwent ankle surgery earlier in the month, meaning that he missed some offseason practices.[118] In 2018, he recorded 39 combined tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble in 16 games and starts.[119][120]
On March 1, 2019, Graham signed a three-year, $40 million contract extension with the Eagles through the 2021 season.[121] In week 5 of the 2019 season against theNew York Jets, Graham sackedLuke Falk three times in the 31–6 win.[122] In week 8 against theBuffalo Bills, Graham recorded a strip sack onJosh Allen and recovered the ball in the 31–13 win.[123] He finished the 2019 season with 8.5 sacks, 50 total tackles (35 solo), and one forced fumble.[124]
In the 2020 season, Graham had eight sacks, 46 total tackles (35 solo), and two forced fumbles in 16 games and starts.[125] He was named to the Pro Bowl for the 2020 season.[126] He was ranked 99th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2021.[127]
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Graham signed a one-year contract extension with the Eagles on March 15, 2021.[128]
In Week 2 of the 2021 season, Graham suffered a torn Achilles and was placed on season-ending injured reserve on September 21, 2021.[129]
After recording 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, a pass defended, five quarterback hits and a forced fumble in week three of the2022 season against theWashington Commanders,[130] Graham was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career.[131] In Week 14, Graham had three sacks, four tackles, and a forced fumble in a 48–22 win over the Giants,[132] earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week, his second of the season.[133] Graham helped the Eagles reachSuper Bowl LVII. It was Graham's second appearance in the Super Bowl. The Eagles lost 38–35 to theKansas City Chiefs.[134]
On March 10, 2023, Graham re-signed with the Eagles on a one-year contract.[135] At the time, Graham was the longest tenured Eagle with 178 regular-season games played. In 2023, Graham tiedChuck Bednarik for most years as an Eagle with 14 seasons.[136] On November 26, 2023, Graham passedDavid Akers' franchise record of 188 regular-season games played for the Eagles.[4]
On March 9, 2024, Graham signed a one-year contract extension with the Eagles.[137] In Week 12, he tore his triceps in the 37-20 win over theLos Angeles Rams, causing him to miss the remainder of the season; prior to the injury, he posted 13 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, 13 QB hurries, and 19 QB pressures.[138] He was activated off injured reserve on February 8, 2025 in time forSuper Bowl LIX.[139] In Super Bowl LIX, Graham recorded one tackle in 13 snaps on defense as the Eagles won 40–22 over theKansas City Chiefs.[140] However, Graham also re-tore his triceps during the game and underwent surgery shortly thereafter.[141]
During a press conference on March 18, 2025, Graham announced his retirement from professional football.[142]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won theSuper Bowl | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | FF | FR | Yds | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | ||
| 2010 | PHI | 13 | 6 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 3.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | PHI | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | PHI | 16 | 6 | 38 | 30 | 8 | 5.5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 | PHI | 16 | 0 | 19 | 15 | 4 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | PHI | 16 | 1 | 46 | 35 | 11 | 5.5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | PHI | 16 | 10 | 51 | 39 | 12 | 6.5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 59 | 41 | 18 | 5.5 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2017 | PHI | 15 | 15 | 47 | 33 | 14 | 9.5 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2018 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 39 | 31 | 8 | 4.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2019 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 50 | 35 | 15 | 8.5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 46 | 35 | 11 | 8.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | PHI | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | PHI | 17 | 1 | 35 | 19 | 16 | 11.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | PHI | 17 | 0 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | PHI | 11 | 1 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 3.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Career | 206 | 106 | 487 | 359 | 128 | 76.5 | 22 | 7 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | |
Graham is aChristian.[143] He is married to Carlyne Graham.[144]
In 2022, Graham provided vocals on theChristmas albumA Philly Special Christmas.[145]
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