“Lift others as you climb.” Sounds poetic, right? But in the rough-and-tumble world of the NFL, it’s rare. Fletcher Cox, though, swears by it when talking about his Eagles brother-in-arms, Brandon Brooks. Appearing on the Behind the Mask podcast, Cox didn’t hold back on how Brooks pushed him to be better.

“I was already making a name for myself,” Cox told the BTM host Tutan Reyes, “and then we signed Brandon Brooks.” That changed it all for Cox. But one thing they stuck by it was to “appreciate each other every day.” No matter what. If they are pinned against each other because of an argument, then it is a long day. Like literally! As Cox put it, they would sit for hours to sort it. 

But here’s the real kicker: the mutual respect between the two wasn’t just about pats on the back. It was forged in the trenches, day in and day out. Cox recalled how every practice felt like game day. “He ain’t catching me slipping, I ain’t catching him slipping,” Cox said with a laugh. That iron-sharpens-iron mentality? It paid off big time. Brooks racked up three Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl ring, and Cox went on to become one of the Eagles’ all-time greats.

And when we say ‘iron-sharpens-iron’ mentality, believe it to be true. Do you remember when Brooks didn’t shy away from keeping it real when asked about going up against Fletcher Cox versus J.J. Watt? After all, he had firsthand experience with both—the daily battles against Cox in Philly and years of facing Watt as a Texan. His answer? Honest, if a little brutal. “To be honest, no,” Brooks said when asked if Cox was tougher to block than Watt. “J.J. is just a different animal, man. That’s no slight to Fletch because Fletch is a damn good player. But, yeah.”

It’s not a knock on Cox, though, like he said. But see it more like a brother keeping it real for his brother! That’s just another learning curve… And Cox? Took it as a challenge. With his $102 million contract, he became the centerpiece of the Eagles’ defense, delivering key performances even under relentless double-teams. But Brooks’ candid response reminds us of the reality in the trenches—sometimes, even the best have to tip their hats to greatness.

Still, Fletcher Cox’s resume speaks volumes. Six Pro Bowls, a Super Bowl ring, and years of wreaking havoc on offensive lines make his place in Eagles history unshakable. Even if Watt was the tougher matchup, Cox had his own way of leaving offenses scrambling.

What’s the takeaway here? Greatness isn’t a solo act. It’s built on moments like these. Pushing each other, appreciating the grind, and lifting others as you climb. And for Cox and Brooks, that brotherhood has lasted well beyond the gridiron.

When Brandon Brooks did not forget to give Fletcher Cox his flowers

When Fletcher Cox hanged his cleats earlier this year, that was the end of an era for Philly. After 12 seasons with the Eagles, the defensive powerhouse decided to call it a career, leaving behind a legacy packed with sacks, Pro Bowls, and a shiny Lombardi Trophy. But you know what makes Cox’s story even better? The brotherhood he built along the way. And no one captured it better than Brandon Brooks.

Brooks, who spent years facing off against Cox in practice, didn’t hold back when paying tribute on his ‘gram: “All of the 1v1s, 9v7s, team runs… one thing was consistent: you lined up across from me.” That’s football poetry right there. And isn’t this the exact thing that Cox said on the BTM podcast? The two had, but one mantra: “No matter how close we get, honesty is what’s keeping us stronger together…” Iron sharpens iron, but without the tired clichés. This was raw, real, and rooted in mutual respect.

Fletcher Cox didn’t just dominate the gridiron; he left a lasting mark on everyone around him. “I can only hope I had the same impact on others that you had on me,” Cox said in his retirement post, shouting out teammates like Jason Kelce and Brandon Graham. It’s clear he valued the camaraderie just as much as the stats—and with 70 career sacks, that’s saying something.

As Philly turned the page to a younger defensive core, names like Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter are already stepping into bigger roles. But let’s not forget: Fletcher Cox and his brothers laid the foundation. From the battles in practice to the glory of an SB win, that Philly camp was a family. And Brooks’ summed up Cox’s contributions in the family with one simple and bold sentence: “Next up, the Hall of Fame!” These two having each other’s back even after bidding adieu might be a nod to one of the strongest NFL brotherhood.