Eagles DE Brandon Graham Still Ready for 'Go-Time' 14 Years Later

Philadelphia Eagles veteran Brandon Graham is the longest-tenured member of the team and still enjoys sacking the quarterback and spending time with his teammates

PHILADELPHIA – Brandon Graham was here first, a year before Jason Kelce, two years before Fletcher Cox, and three years before Lane Johnson.

You could say he was the first building block in one of the strongest foundations in the NFL, with all four players drafted by and still dressing as Philadelphia Eagles more than a decade after their arrival.

Building blocks, however, typically begin to crack after 14 years, which is how long Graham has now been in the NFL. Injuries or ineffectiveness usually ensure that they don’t see 14 years in a sport that is one of the most violent and physical games on the planet.

There are just two first-round picks remaining from the 2010 draft class. Graham is one, San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle, Trent Williams, is the other, but even Williams began his career with the then-Washington Redskins, where he played nine seasons before moving west.

Graham, 35, has stayed put and will fittingly begin Year 14 in New England against the Patriots on Sept. 10.

New England will retire quarterback Tom Brady's No. 12 in festivities that day. Of course, Graham's greatest play - and one of the most iconic in franchise history - was the strip-sack fumble he forced from Brady to help Philly win its first Super Bowl in the 2017 season.

Graham said on Sunday morning after the Eagles returned to practice following Thursday night's preseason finale that he still loves to play the game, citing his ability to sack the quarterback as the top reason, but also the camaraderie he has with his teammates.

“Sacking that quarterback, being able to get to that quarterback, because if I couldn’t get there, I definitely wouldn’t be playing anymore,” he said “But just the boys, the guys, the team that we have right now. So lucky, so fortunate to be on this team because Year 14 it could be a bad team I’m a part of. 

"You just never know as the years have been going for me, but for me, these last two years have been great.”

Yes, Graham can still get to the quarterback. Last year was the first time he crossed the double-digit sack plateau, notching a career-high 11. Despite not achieving that milestone until his 13th season, it has been consistency in getting to the quarterback that has been his calling card.

He has 70 career sacks, which has him fourth on the all-time career list in franchise history. He could catch Clyde Simmons’ total of 76 this year to move into third, which would leave him behind just Trent Cole (85) and Reggie White (124).

Asked by SI Eagles Today if there is still anything new he can learn, or if it is just a matter of refining his technique, Graham said it’s about technique. Even more important, though, is his warmup routine and his attention to nutrition.

“Guys used to tell me as you get older, make sure you keep your weight down, you’ll be able to play a little faster,” he said. “You might get away with some things, and it’s been holding true because I feel light, I feel fast, and trying to make sure I’m available. I gotta do a little more than some of the young guys.

“ ... I’m OK with that because once we get started, it's go-time and I’m excited to still feel like this.”

Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.

Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.

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