Brandon Graham: Super Bowl hero, Philly legend, and now, officially retired. Montgomery Mall was full of Eagles fans on Saturday morning as they flocked to meet their new legend. The ‘Happy Retirement’ balloons only made it more evident that it was done and dusted and there’s no going back. If you are a fan, you have grown watching the 36-year-old and the crowd in front of the S&B Sports Collectibles was the evidence. While he may have had troubles early on, erasing the “bust” image, you know, it took just one moment for him to go from just another player in one of the strongest D-lines to the player!

In the SB LII, seven years ago, BG made the greatest defensive play in the franchise’s history—the strip sack that made Tom Brady look human– where he helped the Eagles to their first ever SB win (beating Pats, 41-33). That play didn’t just win a game. It cemented Graham’s legacy. And as he packs his bags, his former teammate who had been in the same shoes, Jason Kelce, etches his name with his Philly’s greats, revealing what might be the plan of action for his co-retired teammate.

On the latest episode of New Heights, Kelce made it clear—BG wasn’t just a great player. He was the soul of the Eagles. “Retired Tuesday, press conference (was) very emotional. Listen, I’ve been talking to BG for a long time and obviously he made it known before this season’s gonna be his final year. He was playing so good before his tricep injury. I was like, ‘Man, is he going to do it again?’ And he still could—like, he could definitely still play.

“He rushed it. He wanted to play in the Super Bowl really bad. Ended up retying his tricep in the Super Bowl. And it just tells you the type of competitor and person he is and just what a pit bull he was for the Philadelphia Eagles for 15 years,” Jason said.

And let’s be real, this one stings. Losing a player like BG isn’t just about stats, it’s like losing another leader on the field, another voice in the locker room. But after 206 games, 76.5 sacks, and an entire career spent bleeding green, you just knew it was coming. “You all know I gave everything I had in this, I don’t have no regrets,” Graham said, voice cracking as he said his final goodbye in the press.

What made Graham special? He wasn’t just a relentless pass rusher. He was the one who kept the locker room together. And even though he knew this was his last ride, he never took his foot off the gas.

Kelce got that better than anyone after all, if anyone understands what Graham meant to Philly, it’s the man who’s been right there in the trenches with him for over a decade. “Even though he announced before the season he was going to retire, it’s hard to make that announcement official. And I think that’s why you see such an emotional moment out of the guy and as someone who’s been there before, you put so much into this game, the finality of it happening, no matter how much you thought about it or talked about it, is intense.”

Jason retired in 2023 and no doubt, after leading the team for 12 years, it becomes a challenge to leave it all out. And that is exactly what happened with Brandon as well. He was there when Jason entered as a 6th round pick in 2011 and he was there when he left as a Super Bowl champion and a 7x Pro Bowl winner. So, when it is his time to leave after 15 years of devotion to the team and the teammates, it has got to hit, primarily because he was always there for everyone. And Jason puts it best.

The 6x First Team All-Pro added, “And I don’t know if there’s anybody in my 10-years with the Philadelphia Eagles that put more into the game as a player, as a teammate. He loved football, he loved his teammates… I don’t know that anybody represented what it is to be a Philadelphia Eagle than Brandon. Like the genuine love to be on the field with your teammates, the energy he brought on a daily basis.

“I was fortunate to see him Monday that week and I saw him later that week after the announcement and just, very happy for him, very happy for his family, and looking forward to what’s next. So, shout out to you BG, love you man.” If there’s one thing Jason made clear, it’s that no one—NO ONE—poured more into this game from the Eagles than the 2x Super Bowl champion.

You might think that’s the same with all the legends, right? However, what isn’t is what they do post-retirement. Family becomes the priority and life moves on. They may or may not become an analyst or a podcaster. And a hell lot of ifs and buts. But that’s where the whole ‘Bleed Green’ notion comes into play: Once you do bleed like that, there’s no going back.

Understanding the value of Brandon for his brother, Travis also added just what Graham might do now. “I’m sure he’ll stick around Philly just like you did man” And Jason could not help but hope, “I think that’s the plan. There’s obviously some opportunities in media. Wouldn’t be surprised if, you know, like Selleck and some of the other guys who stick and myself, he sticks around the team and tries to help out where he can. He’s just a guy who loves the game and the organization so much. So, really happy for him.”

Even QB Jalen Hurts was in tears as he heard his former teammate tell his stories from his time in Philly. Now, we can say, it’s the end of an era. However, don’t be surprised if you see Jason and BG all suited next season to discuss the nitty-gritty of the games. You can take the player out of Philly, but you can never take Philly out of the player.

As for the Eagles? Maybe, just maybe, the start of something new. Something that can be built around Jalen Hurts.

Jason Kelce and BG out—Is Jalen Hurts the next voice for the Birds?

Brandon Graham was the certified trash-talking king of the Eagles– The taunts and antics. But we can’t say who will be willing enough to take up that mantle. Okay, if the fans don’t ask for that, who’s going to be the next ‘Dawg’? Also, with Jason Kelce already out and Fletcher Cox not far behind, the Birds need some serious locker-room presence.

Well, they don’t need one; they have him already. Jalen Hurts. The QB1. SB LIX MVP or how you say, ‘the underdog’ dual-threat Bird under center. Keeping aside his gridiron monster avatar, he’s the guy who walked up on stage after BG’s emotional farewell, standing next to him, holding up six fingers—one for each of Graham’s years in the league. It wasn’t just a photo-op. It was a statement. Hurts knows it’s his time now. The question is, can he be the leader this team needs?

See, Hurts isn’t BG. Hurts isn’t Jason Kelce. Nobody is. Graham was loud, relentless, and always had a word (or ten) for anyone in his orbit. Same goes for Jason… You never messed with him. You still can’t. Hurts? He’s different: More calculated, more reserved. But don’t let that fool you—this guy leads with action. Need proof? He willingly took a step back in passing stats to make sure the Eagles ran the ball with Saquon Barkley last season.

He threw for 2,903 yards, completing 68.7% of his passes with passing 18 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. On the other hand, he compensated what he cut in the air through his ground stats by rushing for 630 yards and scoring 14 rushing touchdowns.

And when the media called him a “game manager,” he just shrugged it off and went out and torched the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. That’s leadership. That’s exactly what this young core—DeVonta Smith, Jordan Mailata, Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter, and the rest—needs.

They grew up watching BG, Kelce, and Cox dominate. Now it’s their turn. And Hurts is right there in the middle of it, carrying that same Philly toughness forward. But let’s be honest—he’s doing it his way. Less talk, more work. So, let’s see if that’s enough for the Eagles to keep soaring.