What seemed like a storybook ending for the Eagles' longest-tenured player has now been revealed as an even more remarkable tale of determination and sacrifice. Brandon Graham, who made a miraculous return from a torn triceps just in time for Super Bowl LIX, actually re-tore the same muscle during the Eagles' 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, according to veteran reporter Derrick Gunn.
Gunn reported Wednesday morning on 97.5 The Fanatic that Graham has already undergone a second surgery to repair the injury that occurred during his 13 snaps in the championship game in New Orleans.
The 36-year-old defensive end had been sidelined since Week 11 when he initially tore his left triceps, an injury that Graham himself declared season-ending at the time. Yet somehow, after exactly 11 weeks of rehabilitation, the veteran defender managed to work his way back onto the field for the biggest game of the season.
"I know the risk but the reward would be so much sweeter," Graham told reporters on January 30 as he returned to practice. "Go out there and be able to help the team and then if we go out there and get that ring, it would be all worth it."
Those words proved prophetic, as Graham now joins a growing list of Eagles who played through significant injuries during their championship run. Nolan Smith (triceps), Cam Jurgens (back), and Landon Dickerson (knee) have all required postseason surgeries. Smith, like Graham, suffered a triceps tear during the Super Bowl, though his was an initial injury.
Graham's resilience comes as no surprise to Eagles fans who have watched him persevere through 15 NFL seasons. The 2010 first-round pick has now secured his second Super Bowl championship with Philadelphia, having played a crucial role in both victories.
