Brandon Graham has considered retirement in recent years, but he sounds committed to another season.
The longtime Eagles defensive lineman said following Philly’s season-ending loss Monday that he wants to do a farewell tour in 2024, which would mark his 15th NFL season, which so far has been entirely in Philly.
Graham saw a downtick in his snaps this season, but that didn’t seem to bother him as he relished the opportunity to bring along some of the Eagles’ younger defensive players.
The 35-year-old reiterated to the 94WIP Morning Show the desire to come back.
“Yeah I do, I do want to have a little farewell tour and go out as right as it’s going to get,” Graham said. “At the end of the day, I enjoy playing with the guys, I still feel like I’ve got a little juice left, I really just want to have this one be 15, farewell tour, call it a day. Move up in the organization and go upstairs and do that part on serving the guys and keep building this thing. Like I’ve said, I love being a part of this organization. I’m thankful for Mr. Laurie, Howie and the guys, people that believe in me, even Big Red for taking a chance on me.
"I just feel good being that service to the young boys. A lot of them have (said to) me already, you’ve got to come back next year for us, I really appreciate you, all that little stuff. That means something to me because that's all I tried to do this year, have fun, enjoy the guys and know that we young, but them boys came to work and they trust me.
“With that, I just want to at least give them a farewell, let them know this is my last one, but I’m passing you that torch, baby. So, you’ve got to be serving the other guys too, it’s going to be on you. Just showing them how to be pro for my last year even more, then we just off into the sunset, hopefully all of this made us stronger and we can try to compete for a ring next year.”
Graham is set to be a free agent, so he would have to negotiate a new deal with the Eagles in order to return. He wouldn’t be the first longtime Eagles to have to finish his career elsewhere if it got to that point, Brian Dawkins and Donovan McNabb among the others, but he’s not willing to go down that road just yet.
“I’m willing to work on whatever we can do,” Graham said. “And if it just don’t work out, I’ve got a decision to make, but I’m not at that place yet. But I’m willing to do what I’ve got to do for the team, because obviously we’ve gotta get guys back, I don't know who’s up this year, I don’t know a lot of stuff on the contract stuff.
"But I know for me, I’m definitely thankful and blessed the Eagles have taken care of me, so I will definitely work it out in a way where – I’m happy already. I’ll let my agent do his thing, and I’ll let Howie do it, but I’ll step in if I feel like it’s right there and I can just make a decision to just be back. I love the vibe, I love this team and I want to give Eagles fans something really great. … Whatever I got to do, I haven’t gotten to the other place, like I said, but I will cross that road when it comes.”