NEW ORLEANS -- Through all of the ups and downs of the Eagles' last decade and a half, Brandon Graham has been there to see it all.
As a first-round pick out of Michigan in 2010, Graham arrived to the tail end of the Andy Reid era in Philadelphia. He's watched the club rise and fall with a collection of quarterbacks and a few head coaches. He's won a Super Bowl and lost another. And he's hoping to play in his third Sunday in New Orleans.
It could be his final game of his career, a checkpoint that would elicit somber feelings had Graham not already been confronted with his football mortality earlier this season when he tore his triceps, an injury that typically ends a player's year.
As Graham said Wednesday, when he first learned of the severity of his injury, he realized his season was likely over. Knowing retirement isn't too far away, he also understood he might have played his final snap.
That wasn't good enough for the Super Bowl LII hero and eldest member of the 2024 Eagles.
"In my mind, I didn't want to end it like that," Graham, 36, said ahead of Super Bowl LIX.
Fortunately, other players -- former teammate Javon Hargrave and past Eagles defensive tackle Hollis Thomas -- were watching and offered Graham some hope.
"They just told me, 'Hey man, that'll give you this amount of months. I came back at two and a half.' And I was like 'OK,' " Graham explained. "Right now, I'm (at) almost two and a half.
"I just went for it. And I'm happy that the team wanted me to go for it too."
There's no guarantee Graham plays Sunday. He's maintained both a grateful and optimistic tone throughout the week, while his coach Nick Sirianni has predictably kept his answers vague regarding the status of Graham, whose window to return to practice was opened on Jan. 30.
That hasn't quelled the buzz regarding Graham's possible participation from building. It's a story that's fit for a Hollywood script. Graham hopes to write the ending by winning his second Super Bowl, a triumph made sweeter by his most recent experience on the grand stage: Philadelphia's loss to Kansas City in Super Bowl LVII.
"We didn't get it done in the end. We still love that team because man, we had a great year, just didn't finish it," Graham said. "This time around, that's the focus. We've got to finish the deal. It's not about everything that we did before this; it's all about what we do this weekend. We want to make sure that we sprint through that finish line."
Though it might not be the wisest for a player coming off an injury, Graham has built his entire approach to Super Bowl LIX around sprinting. He's had two months to sit and watch his teammates and couldn't be more eager to return for the biggest game of the season.
Being a veteran, Graham is also smart enough to know his limits, which could include budgeting some energy and adrenaline Sunday.
"I want to make sure I use it wisely," Graham said, cracking his trademark smile. "I might not be talking as much because I'm trying to save my energy because it has been two months since I've played, but I am excited. ... Working with the strength staff, the trainers, I feel like we've got a good, little regiment that will make sure they bridge me back into everything."
Graham is one of four Eagles remaining from their Super Bowl LII-winning roster and the oldest of the quartet. When another member of that group, offensive tackle Lane Johnson, was described as the oldest remaining player on Monday night, he was quick to note that title actually belonged to Graham, who wears it as a badge of honor.
Graham said Wednesday he feels privileged to "pass the torch" to the next generation of Eagles. He couldn't have picked a better time. This Philadelphia team features the second-youngest defense in the NFL, a figure that would be even younger if Graham wasn't included.
The Eagles wouldn't have it any other way, though. Graham is the fun-loving, trash-talking heartbeat of the locker room.
As veteran cornerback Darius Slay said Monday, Graham "coming in the locker room would (provide) a spark" even after retirement.
That could soon become a reality. Graham admitted Wednesday he hasn't made a final decision on his future, but it sure sounds as if he understands this very well could be it for him.
With that in mind, he's not taking a single second for granted.
"Make it your best. Make it your best one," he said. "It's nothing different that I will do other than making sure that I'm enjoying the whole journey. Even today, we've got practice, make sure that you go 100 miles (per hour). These last couple that you're going to be able to do, go out there so that it shows up on the field. I'm just happy that I'm able to play in this last one."
