That storybook ending Brandon Graham penned when he retired last March, with an emotional speech given while framed by the two Lombardi Trophies he helped deliver, has a sequel.
“That storybook can still be there, but reality set in,” said Graham on Wednesday, his first practice after unretiring. “I still had the urge. I felt like I was still on my game last year and still felt like I could help the team. If I didn’t feel like that, I wouldn’t be back.”
Somewhere in the back of his mind, when he made that speech on March 18, Graham sort of knew that might not truly be the end. Still, he was settling nicely into retirement, playing golf and spending time with his family, running his kids to and from school and to their activities. In between, he was showing up at the Eagles’ facility to work out every day. He had his own space inside the coaches’ locker room.
“I’m not surprised because he’s been working out with us like, you know, even in the summertime I remember coming in and BG was in,” said teammate Josh Uche. “He was always working out.”
Uche saw him so much, he began to wonder if Graham really did retire.
“I couldn’t tell,” he said. “I walk in, he’s watching film just like us. I just felt like football is one thing that I feel like BG can never get away from. Being retired I figured he’d be a coach or something, so when he wasn’t coaching, I’m, like, all right, something might be up. It’s great to have him back.”
Brandon Graham Discusses Decision To Return
Graham admitted he will wake up sore on Thursday morning after donning the pads for the first time since he took 13 snaps in Super Bowl LIX. It’s all part of ramping up for a role that may come Sunday when the New York Giants visit or after the bye week, on Monday night, Nov. 10, in Green Bay.
He said he wasn’t sure what the plan will be, but just knows that, once the soreness passes, he will offer fresh legs to whatever and whenever the role develops.
Graham said he had to talk to his wife when the Eagles first reached out to him before the season. He wasn’t sure then, and the Eagles signed Za’Darius Smith. When Smith retired, the Eagles got back in touch, and Graham and his wife, after further conversation, agreed to put the pads back on and go for another spin.
“We talked about it,” said Graham. “She said, ‘Man, you went out on top.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, it’s cool.’ …It was like man, if I still feel like I can play, why not? And I feel like we got a good team, too. That’s another thing. If the team wasn’t good I’d be like I’m sorry, I gotta go.
“But I do feel like we have an opportunity of a lifetime right now with these people on the team, and how we’ve done a great job putting this team together. I still feel like I have a duty to come in here and help because I still feel like I have some juice left.”
Ahead of Monday’s Chiefs vs. Commanders game, Patrick Mahomes reflects on how Kliff Kingsbury helped shape his career
It’s hard to believe now, but Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was not a five-star recruit coming out of high school in 2014. Mahomes had three football offers: Texas Tech, Rice and Houston. Mahomes, who was also a baseball star, picked Texas Tech, and a big reason he chose the Red Raiders was their head coach at the time: Kliff Kingsbury.
Mahomes signed with Texas Tech and would appear in 32 games, making 29 starts, before entering the 2017 NFL draft. After sitting behind Alex Smith during his rookie season, Mahomes took over as the Chiefs quarterback in 2018, and the rest is history. He’s already one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, and he’s only 30 years old.
On Monday night, Mahomes and the 4-3 Chiefs host the Washington Commanders. Washington’s offensive coordinator is Kliff Kingsbury.
Over the years, Mahomes and Kingsbury have always praised one another. Mahomes has spoken of how much Kingsbury meant to his development, while the coach has always praised Mahomes’ vast talent.
Mahomes met with the media on Thursday and was asked for his best memories of Kingsbury from their time at Texas Tech.
“He’s one of the first people that truly believed in me playing the quarterback position,” Mahomes said. “He gave me a ton of advice of refining me, but letting me still just be me and play to my strengths. A great coach, a great person that I still stay in touch with. Not as much this week, but throughout my career, and he helped me get to where I’m at today because he didn’t put me in a box and tell me how to play quarterback this way. He let me just go out there and be myself and play the way that got me there. I think that’s something that is special about him as a coach.”
Kingsbury would first coach in the NFL in 2019 as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Kingsbury took over a bad team and had them in the playoffs by his third season. However, he was fired after a disastrous 4-13 season in 2022. After serving one year as an offensive analyst at USC, Kingsbury jumped back into the NFL, choosing to be the Commanders’ offensive coordinator over offers from other teams.
Kingsbury had another young quarterback to mold with Washington: Jayden Daniels. The Kingsbury-led offense helped Washington to its best season in 33 years, and Daniels broke numerous records, winning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Daniels will not be under center on Monday night due to a hamstring injury.
Kingsbury has coached several talented quarterbacks over the years, but make no mistake, Mahomes is his star pupil.
