Bryan Braman, former Eagles player and Super Bowl champ, dies at 38 after brain cancer diagnosis

Former NFL linebacker Bryan Braman, who made a key but overlooked play in the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl victory in 2018, died Wednesday night following a brain cancer diagnosis made earlier this year, his agent said.

Braman, 38, died at a hospital in his native Spokane, Washington, agent Sean Stellato told NBC News.

"I lost my football brother, my client and my dear friend, and it hurts, to say the least," Stellato said.

Braman played at Long Beach City (Calif.) College and Division II West Texas A&M before he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans in 2011.

He established himself as a dependable special teams contributor for three seasons in Houston before he moved on to the Philadelphia Eagles for four more campaigns.

"He was awesome, always full of energy," said Matthew Harper, the assistant special teams coach on Braman's final squad, the 2017-18 world champion Eagles.

"People loved him for that, and he showed the same thing on and off the field."

The Eagles honored Braman and offered condolences to his family in a statement.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Bryan Braman. During his four seasons in Philadelphia, Bryan was a loyal teammate, a supporter of the community, and a valuable member of our Super Bowl LII-winning team," the team said.

"More importantly, he was a devoted father who passionately loved his family and everyone around him," it said. "We extend our deepest condolences to Bryan’s family and all who are grieving his loss during this difficult time."

Braman's final professional game came in Super Bowl 52, when Philadelphia scored a 41-33 upset victory over the New England Patriots on Feb. 4, 2018, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.