Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
A Philadelphia sports legend is coming out of retirement. Brandon Graham is coming back to play for the Eagles, according to a Monday night report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Graham, who retired in March, will finalize a deal with the Eagles this week, per Schefter. Graham played 15 consecutive seasons in Philadelphia and became the longest-tenured Eagle in franchise history before retiring after his second Super Bowl win. But after just seven games away from the team, the 37-year-old has decided to come back and provide some much-needed help off the edge. Graham had a legendary career with the Eagles, racking up 76 1/2 sacks and a franchise-leading 126 tackles for loss. He also provided a veteran presence that was invaluable to the younger pass rushers and the team as a whole. The Eagles tried to replicate that leadership by signing Za’Darius Smith last month. The three-time Pro Bowl selection, who was signed in early September, got Graham’s old locker in the middle of the Eagles’ locker room at the NovaCare Complex, which felt significant. But last Monday, Smith abruptly retired. That’s when speculation bubble of Graham’s potential return, with the Eagles’ pass rush already affected by injury. Schefter reported on Sunday that Graham was “strongly considering” a comeback. Asked after the Eagles’ win over the Vikings, Jordan Mailata seemed surprised. “That’s news to me. Wow,” Mailata said in the U.S. Bank Stadium’s visiting locker room. But Mailata made it clear he would welcome Graham’s return to the Eagles. “If he were to come back, hell yeah,” Mailata said of Graham, one of the most influential Eagles in recent history. “That’s uncle right there. Uncle OG. One of the most important pieces we had in getting a Super Bowl last year. I think it would just add depth again and that pop.”
