Eagles legend Brandon Graham sends special message to City of Philly in emotional retirement speech
Philadelphia Eagles' 36-year-old star defensive end Brandon Graham is officially calling it quits after 15 NFL seasons. The two-time Super Bowl champion shared an emotional speech to Philly on Tuesday, March 18 where he thanked everyone from his little league coaches to teammates, friends, family, and the great City of Philadelphia. Perhaps one of the […]
Philadelphia Eagles' 36-year-old star defensive end Brandon Graham is officially calling it quits after 15 NFL seasons.
The two-time Super Bowl champion shared an emotional speech to Philly on Tuesday, March 18 where he thanked everyone from his little league coaches to teammates, friends, family, and the great City of Philadelphia.
Perhaps one of the best moments in his speech, was Graham mentioning his "bust" days, and thanking Eagles fans for pushing him to be better.
"To Philadelphia, we didn't start too tight, as you know," Graham said. "You made me work for this and I appreciate you for that. Through the struggles, the injuries, and the moments where I had to prove myself, over and over again — you never let me get comfortable. You held me accountable. You kept that chip on my shoulder. You pushed me to be better and when the time came, we celebrated together. Two times.
"This city is built on hard work, resilience, and unmatched passion. And you bring the same energy to every game, every moment, every season. Your loyalty, your fire and your unwavering support mean everything to me and this organization. Philly doesn't just support its team, it lives for them. And I see it. And I feel it. And I appreciate every single one of you. Thank you for being the heartbeat of this city. This game has changed my life, but more importantly, this city has changed my life.
"It has given me a purpose far beyond football. It has shown me what it means to be a leader. To be a friend. To be a man of faith and have integrity. While my time on the field is coming to an end, my love for this team and city will never fade. Philadelphia, and everybody, from the bottom of my heart, I just want to thank ya'll."
The Eagles’ former first-round pick in 2010 out of Michigan ends his career still holding the franchise record for most regular season games played (206) and ranks third all-time in sacks (76.5).
He officially throws in the towel with 76.5 sacks, 487 total tackles, 126 for a loss, 153 QB hits, and 22 forced fumbles to his name.
It's safe to say that while Graham's name on the roster may be gone, he will never be forgotten in Philadelphia.
