The Philadelphia Eagles are getting some help on the defensive side of the football for Super Bowl LIX.
Brandon Graham activated by Eagles for Super Bowl LIX
The Eagles will have Brandon Graham back for Super Bowl LIX
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.
On the day before the big game, Philadelphia announced that they were activating defensive lineman Brandon Graham for Super Bowl LIX. Graham has been on Injured Reserve since Week 12 when he tore his triceps.
The Eagles opened the practice window for Graham a few days following the NFC Championship Game.
While Graham’s status for the Super Bowl was a question mark heading into this week, the pass rusher seemed to give his return away on Monday night. Speaking at Super Bowl Opening Night, Graham said he was “excited” to be able to return for the Super Bowl.
“I’m feeling good,” Graham said Monday at the NFL’s Super Bowl Opening Night. “I’m excited to be able to play in this game. Just enjoying the moment.”
Now that return is official.
Speaking with the media following Philadelphia’s win over the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game, Graham himself talked about how a return for the Super Bowl was an option before turning the focus to his teammates.
“Like I always say, we’re gonna see,” said Graham after the NFC Championship Game. “Right now, it’s not about me, it’s about our team. And I’m just so happy that the team went out there and took care of business.”
This return makes for an incredible conclusion to his final NFL season. The defensive lineman announced in the summer that he would be retiring at the end of this campaign. “It’s my last year, man,” said Graham in July. “So, I’m just trying to soak it all in, trying to enjoy every day, trying to give it everything. No stone unturned.”
Graham has spent his entire 15-year career in Philadelphia since being drafted by the team in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Before his injury he appeared in 11 games for the Eagles, recording 3.5 sacks.
Graham is also known for one of the biggest plays in Eagles’ history, his strip-sack of Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII that helped seal the win for Philadelphia.
A return to action for Super Bowl LIX, and a similar play against Patrick Mahomes, would be a storybook ending for the longest-tenured player in Eagles history.
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