High School Standout
Even in high school, Brandon Graham was widely considered a top football player. He ranked as the top prospect in Michigan, the number two inside linebacker, and the fifteenth overall best player in the nation.
Not only was Brandon good, but he was also extremely versatile, playing linebacker, tight end, fullback, and offensive guard. For his athletic excellence, Brandon received many honors including Parade Magazine All-American, EA Sports All-American, USA Today High School All-America first team, and Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year. Following his high school success, Brandon decided to play for his hometown team – The University of Michigan.
University of Michigan
Brandon was initially listed as a linebacker at Michigan, but before the 2006 season he switched to defensive end and as a true freshman played in the season opener. However, for most of the season, he was the backup for the 2006 Lombardi Award (best lineman) and Ted Hendricks Award (best defensive end) winner LaMarr Woodley.
During the 2007 season, he led the team with 8.5 sacks and was second in forced fumbles with 3. Then in 2008, he showed his dominance finishing the season with 10 sacks and leading the Big Ten with 20 tackles for loss. He ranked second nationally in tackles for loss and tied for eleventh in sacks. After the season, he earned a 2008 Second-Team All-Big Ten Conference selection and Michigan’s Most Valuable Player award.
In his final collegiate season, Brandon posted 10.5 sacks and 26 tackles for loss in 12 games, leading the nation in average tackles for loss per game. He was a 2009 First-Team All-Big Ten selection, 2009 First-Team All-America selection by ESPN, and became Michigan’s first defensive player to be named a two-time team MVP. Brandon also won the Big Ten MVP (as a joint award with Daryll Clark). He became only the 7th defensive player (only the 2nd in the last 25 years) and the first co-recipient to earn the award.
The Philadelphia Eagles
Andy Reid’s Philadelphia Eagles selected Brandon in the first round (13th overall) of the 2010 NFL draft after trading their first-round pick (24th overall), third-round pick (70th overall), and an additional third-round pick (87th overall) to the Denver Broncos.
Unfortunately, Brandon’s rookie season ended abruptly after he suffered a torn ACL in Week 14. The recovery took significant time, with Brandon only appearing in 3 games the following season. However, in the 2012 season, he played all 16 games and finished with 5.5 sacks, 38 total tackles, one pass defended, and two forced fumbles.
In 2013, he moved from defensive end to linebacker, notching 3 sacks, 20 total tackles, and one forced fumble in 16 games. After getting more accustomed to a position he hadn’t played since high school, Brandon increased his output each season ultimately reaching 6.5 sacks and 51 total tackles in 2015.
He moved back to defensive end for the 2016 season (59 tackles, two forced fumbles, and 5.5 sacks) and was named 2016 All-Pro 2nd Team by the Associated Press, first-team All-Pro by Pro Football Focus, and All-NFC by the Pro Football Writers Association. Pro Football Focus also rated Brandon as the ninth-best player in the NFL. In addition, his fellow players ranked him as the 93rd-best player in the league on the NFL Top 100.
Career Year & Super Bowl Win
In 2017, Brandon had a career year, posting a team-leading 9.5 sacks and 47 tackles. That same year, he led the Eagles to the Super Bowl alongside the playoff success of backup quarterback Nick Foles. With 2:21 remaining in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LII, he strip-sacked Tom Brady, forcing a fumble that teammate Derek Barnett recovered. The Eagles won 41–33 over the New England Patriots, giving the franchise its first Super Bowl victory.
After another solid season, Brandon signed a three-year, $40 million contract extension with the Eagles. In 2019, he was named an Eagles team captain, a title he has kept through the 2024 season.
Continuing his career successes, Brandon earned his first Pro Bowl nomination in 2020. He also ranked 99th on the NFL Top 100 Players for that year.
After suffering a torn Achilles in 2021, Brandon won his first two NFC Defensive Player of the Week awards and helped the Eagles reach Super Bowl LVII the following season. Unfortunately, the Eagles lost the highly contested Super Bowl 38–35 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
On November 26th, 2023, Brandon passed David Akers’ franchise record of 188 regular-season games played for the Eagles. Then in March, he signed a one-year contract extension with Philadelphia, setting the franchise record for his 15th season as an Eagle.
2nd Super Bowl Victory
In Week 12 of the 2024 season, Brandon tore his triceps, causing him to miss the remainder of the regular season. He worked tirelessly to make an unprecedented same-season comeback and was activated off injured reserve just in time for Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles dominated this Super Bowl rematch, ultimately winning 40-22 and making Brandon a 2-time Super Bowl Champion.
Walter Payton Man of the Year
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field. Each team nominates one player who has had a significant positive impact on his community, with one winner selected from the 32 nominees. Brandon’s significant off-the-field work has earned him two nominations for the award. His first nomination came during the 2022 season and recently he was announced as the Eagles 2024 nominee as well. If you’d like to see some of the impact Brandon has had, watch this video.
