Not long after helping lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a second Super Bowl title, veteran defensive end Brandon Graham elected to call it a career and hang up his pads and cleats for good.
While Graham is no longer a key piece of the puzzle on the field for Philadelphia's defense, his value is still being felt by Eagles defenders who are still with the team. Fans learned on Thursday that the 15-year veteran is still in daily contact with his former teammates and is providing them with fuel for the fire as Philadelphia looks to defend its crown once the 2025 campaign kicks off.
Brandon Graham Making Impact on Eagles Defenders Despite Retirement
On Thursday morning, Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith met with the media in attendance for OTAs and discussed the lasting impact Graham still has on him as a player and a person. In the clip below, courtesy of John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia, Smith reveals that he's in daily contact with Graham and vows to be the same type of leader the Eagles' great was during his tenure with the franchise.
"I still talk to (Graham) on the phone every day... When I get up and come into treatment, I just call him," Smith revealed. "You can't fill nobody's shoes. I would never do that... The more I go on in Philly, the more he does... I can just try my best to emit that and just bring that juice, bring that energy every day."
If Smith can bring the same sort of work ethic and energy to the field that Graham did throughout his career, then Philadelphia's defensive front will be in great shape moving forward. The Eagles have all the talent they could ask for on that side of the ball, especially when it comes to the former Georgia Bulldog.
Smith entered the offseason following a strong second year with the Eagles. The ex-2023 first-rounder racked up 42 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, two defended passes, and a forced fumble in 16 regular-season games before packing the league in sacks (4.0) and lost yardage tackles (4) on the way to Philadelphia's Super Bowl 59 victory.
When all was said and done, Smith finished the campaign as Pro Football Focus' No. 27-graded outside defender.
Having a player of the caliber of Smith being so eager to take on that leadership role that has helped him make the jump from the collegiate ranks to the NFL will only make the next generation of defenders in the City of Brotherly Love that much more effective. That has to be a scary thought for the rest of the league, and great news for Eagles fans.