After an outstanding performance in the regular season and the first three games of the playoffs, the Philadelphia Eagles will try to finish the job against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
This will be the second time in the last three years that the Eagles are playing the Chiefs in the big game. Kansas City defeated Philadelphia 38-35 in Super Bowl 57.
For some players, this will be the first of many trips to the Super Bowl. However, for other guys on the team, this might be their last game with the Birds and they want to go out on top.
Philadelphia saw veterans Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce retire at the end of the 2023 season as they couldn’t get them their second ring in 2022. The Eagles don’t want to have a repeat of that this time around.
Nonetheless, the Eagles have 18 players scheduled to hit free agency in March, which means some players will be elsewhere at the start of the 2025 season. Below, we’ll highlight a few Eagles playing their last game with the Eagles and discuss what they’ve done this season.
1. Brandon Graham, DE
The elder statesman, veteran defensive end Brandon Graham will potentially hang up the cleats after the Super Bowl.
The 36-year-old defender has had a tremendous 15-year career with the Eagles, filled with many moments, including his strip sack of New England Patriots QB Tom Brady in Super Bowl 52.
After the 2023 season, Graham hinted that this season could be his last with the Eagles. The veteran defender turned back the clock in 2024 under the direction of long-time defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
The former first-round pick started the season as one of the Eagles’ best defensive linemen. Through 11 games, he had 20 combined tackles, 11 quarterback pressures, seven QB hits, six tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks.
However, Graham’s 2024 season took a crazy turn as he suffered an apparent season-ending triceps injury. For all intents and purposes, it looked like Graham’s season and career was over after the Eagles’ Week 12 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
But with the Eagles making it to the Super Bowl after all three playoff games at home, Graham has a chance to put on the uniform one last time. The veteran defender had his 21-day practice window opened last week and was listed as questionable.
Based on those two pieces of information, Graham is on track to play in the Super Bowl. The Eagles hope the veteran pass rusher can come through with another defining play to wrap up his stellar career.
2. Josh Sweat, DE
With the emergence of second-year pass rusher Nolan Smith Jr. and rookie Jalyx Hunt, it's possible the Eagles won’t re-sign Sweat, who could cash in with a sizable payday in free agency.
There was a thought that the 27-year-old pass rusher might’ve not been playing in Philadelphia before the 2024 season began. However, the Eagles kept Sweat, restructuring his contract, and moving on from Haason Reddick, which was the correct move.
Sweat played well during the regular season, possessing 41 combined tackles, 16 quarterback pressures, 15 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss, and eight sacks. The veteran defender has not recorded a sack or QB pressure in the Eagles’ first three playoff games but will hope to make his presence felt in the Super Bowl.
When the Eagles went to the Super Bowl in 2022, Sweat produced 27 quarterback pressures and 11 sacks. It’s no coincidence he’s played well this season and the Eagles are back in this spot again.
Spotrac.com projects Sweat’s calculated market value at a three-year, $56.4 million deal ($18.8 million average annual salary), which might be too much for the Eagles. Along with Sweat, the Eagles must try to re-sign Zack Baun, Milton Williams, and Mehki Becton, who have all been outstanding this season.
That said, Eagles fans should not doubt the cap wizardry of Howie Roseman, who has proven that he can find ways to keep this team competitive and one of the best in the league. At the same time, if Sweat is looking for a massive payday, several teams who need pass rushers will open up their wallets.
3. Darius Slay, CB
One of the more shocking departures this offseason could be veteran cornerback Darius ‘Big Play’ Slay. The veteran defender told reporters ahead of the NFC Championship game against Washington that he was preparing for it to be his last home game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Slay also told NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Ashlyn Sullivan that he’s 85 percent leaning towards playing one more season, but it might not be with the Eagles.
Darius Slay is preparing for Sunday to be his last home game at Lincoln Financial field.
— Ashlyn Sullivan (@ashlynrsullivan) January 24, 2025
Slay told me this week after having conversations with his family, he is 85% leaning towards playing one more season, but understands it most likely won’t be with the Eagles. When I asked… pic.twitter.com/2JzvyB0tSD
As you can imagine that news saddened the Eagles fanbase. At 34 years old, Slay has played outstanding football opposite rookie Quinyon Mitchell this season. The six-time Pro Bowl did not have an interception in the regular season.
However, he changed that in the playoffs, nabbing an interception in the wild-card round against the Green Bay Packers.
Slay has played well through the first three playoff games, posting a 57.1 completion percentage allowed on targets and a 90.5 pass rating allowed when targeted. He’s also only given up two receiving touchdowns.
If this is his last game with the Eagles, Philly fans hope Slay still has a little bit more gas left in the tank against the Chiefs. Slay has been everything and more since he arrived in Philadelphia in 2020.
The veteran defensive back gave this fanbase a solidified CB1 for multiple years, something they’ve yearned for many years. Now Slay will turn the cornerback room over to guys like Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Kelee Ringo, and Isaiah Rodgers Sr., who is also a free agent at the end of this season.
4-5. Fred Johnson and Avonte Maddox
Johnson could be in line for a pay upgrade in free agency as a starting-caliber offensive tackle next season.
The 27-year-old Johnson has taken over as the Eagles’ designated swing tackle and has done a great job in that role. He has started in six games this season for Philadelphia due to injuries at the tackle spot (Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata).
When you look at Johnson’s advanced analytics on PFF his grades aren't special (47.6 overall grade, 37.3 pass block, and 55.1 run-block). But he’s only allowed eight sacks and penalized four times in 480 offensive snaps during the regular season, which is not bad.
Johnson won’t get a huge deal in free agency, but it could be enough to justify him leaving and graduating from Stoutland U and being a starting offensive lineman.
Meanwhile, Maddox has likely played his last game in Philadelphia as the secondary has gotten younger and better throughout the regular season. The veteran defensive back started the year out as the starting nickel.
However, the 28-year-old defensive back did not play well, opening the door for Fangio to put DeJean in the starting lineup, transforming the secondary.
Maddox became a rotational player in the secondary, as he had a 56.6 coverage grade in the regular season, per PFF. When opposing teams saw the veteran defender on the field, they went right after him. With the Eagles having young and talented players in Ringo, Rodgers, DeJean, and Mitchell, there’s no room for Maddox.