Sep 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Fanatics CEO Mike Rubin, Philadelphia Eagles former player Brandon Graham and musical artist Meek Mill pose for a photo prior to the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

You never know what to expect out of a football player's retirement. For one Philadelphia Eagles' defensive end, he didn't even last one season.

Brandon Graham, who spent the entirety of his 15-year NFL career with the Eagles before retiring last offseason, is lacing up his cleats once more. The news broke from multiple sources on Monday that the defensive end had signed a one-year contract to Philadelphia and would be getting back to the gridiron immediately.

Graham has played 206 games for the Eagles – with 106 starts – and has registered 487 career tackles, 76.5 career sacks, and 22 career forced fumbles. Last season, he played in 11 games with one start for Philly and tallied 20 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumbles. He was a 2020 Pro Bowl and 2016 All-Pro selection, and has won two Super Bowls with the Eagles. He is expected to officially announce his decision to return Tuesday morning.

The veteran pass rusher will hope to provide a boon to a defense that has been very lackluster when it comes to getting after opposing quarterbacks, as the Eagles are 29th in sack percentage and 26th in total sacks in the NFL this season. The roster is down to three healthy edge rushers, who have combined for just two total sacks this season. Za'Darius Smith leads the edge rusher position with just 1.5 sacks, but Smith announced his own retirement last week after playing just five games this season.

What sort of shape Graham will be in is still undetermined, as he played through a torn triceps in Super Bowl LIX after initially suffering the injury last November. But the Eagles will need bodies at his position – don't be surprised to see more names added before the trade deadline, either – and his veteran presence and championship experience will surely be welcomed.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Former Pro Bowler, Super Bowl Champion Ending Retirement To Return To Eagles

Reporting by Joe Smith, Touchdown Wire / Touchdown Wire

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect