Eagles’ Jordan Mailata Sends Strong Message on Retired Star’s Potential Comeback
Brandon Graham is mulling a comeback, and one of his longtime Philadelphia Eagles teammates is ready to welcome him back with open arms.
Tackle Jordan Mailata spoke about Graham’s potential comeback and why he would love for the longtime Eagles defensive tackle to rejoin the team.
Graham, who spent his entire 15-year career with the Eagles before he retired after they won Super Bowl LIX, reportedly is considering coming out of retirement. He has reportedly talked with the Eagles about coming back — though Graham is also rehabilitating from a torn triceps muscle he sustained in the Super Bowl.
The Eagles Would Welcome Brandon Graham Back If He Came Out Of Retirement
According to NFL.com insiders Tom Pelissaro and Mike Garafalo, Graham’s unretirement has come up in the wake of Za’Darius Smith’s sudden decision to hang up his cleats last week.
Graham has been working for NFL Network as an analyst on “Good Morning Football” while trying to recover from his devastating injury sustained in the Super Bowl. According to Graham, some within the Eagles facility have been nudging him to make a comeback — especially since the team is 5-2 and, as expected, looking like a contender to repeat.
“I’m flattered, actually, that everybody [pushes him to] ‘Come on back, come on back,'” Graham said on his “Unblocked” podcast last week. “It’s pretty cool.”
So even though he initially played dumb about Graham’s unretirement, Mailata — who played against Graham for five years before Graham called it quits — would be on board.
“If he were to come back, hell yeah,” Mailata said. “That’s uncle right there. Uncle OG. That’s one of the most important pieces we had getting a Super Bowl last year. I think it would really just add depth again and that pop.”
Graham, who won two Super Bowls and ranks third on the team’s all-time sack list (76.5) and 14th all-time in tackles (359), could provide a lift whether he played or not, according to members of the Eagles defense.
“It would mean a lot,” linebacker Nakobe Dean said, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. “It would mean a lot. No matter if he comes back in any capacity. If he plays every snap or no snaps, it don’t matter. The energy that BG brings is unparalleled. So just to have a guy like that in the locker room, it would be great.
“He can still ball, for sure.”
Nick Sirianni Was Mum On Brandon Graham’s Comeback
Though the topic of Graham’s return was floating around the Eagles locker room after their 28-22 win over the Minnesota Vikings that pushed them to a 1.5-game lead over the Dallas Cowboys atop the NFC East, coach Nick Sirianni wouldn’t take the bait when asked about Graham’s potential return.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve,” Sirianni said when asked about Graham’s potential return. “After a game on a game day, I don’t think we’d get into any roster moves right now or anything like that. We’ll see what happens.”
Still, Sirianni did acknowledge the work general manager Howie Roseman puts into helping the Eagles constantly improve.
“Howie does an unbelievable job there,” Sirianni said. “Howie’s so relentless. This team is relentless … on ways to get better.”
Patriots’ Mike Vrabel gets feisty with reporter amid Stefon Diggs question
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Entering his first NFL season as New England Patriots head coach, Mike Vrabel has undoubtedly made his presence felt amidst the early stages, including getting into a recent back-and-forth with a reporter over Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' health. In a short span since training camp, Vrabel has broken up two fights during joint practices, made a Diggs and Cardi B joke, and roasted two different opposing coaches/former teammates with a Tom Brady line.
This time, however, he wasn't smiling. Vrabel, when Patriots veteran reporter Phil Perry revealed Diggs said he wasn't sure if he'd be ready before the start of the 2025 NFL regular season, casting doubt on his readiness for Week 1, snapped back at Perry for his line of questioning.
“Did you really believe that, Phil [Perry]? I mean, you’re a smart guy. I don’t know where you went to school – it wasn’t Ohio State. But like, do you really believe that? Do you really believe that, Phil, or are you just trying to bait me into something?” Vrabel asked. I don't know the context in which he said it. You'd have to help me.
“He's been out here almost every day. I'm excited with where we're at, and we'll see when Week 1 comes. He's going to practice today. Hopefully, he helps us in the red zone, but we can't predict the future about Week 1. I just know he's going to be out there today. He works hard and he cares, which are two important things,” Vrabel concluded.
Stefon Diggs gives a cryptic take on Patriots' Week 1 status
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs did give a non-committal response while looking ahead to his debut in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season. Still, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel made a valid point, suggesting that Diggs can't know how his body will respond between now and then.
Diggs is taking things one day at a time, he said, per The Athletic's Dianna Russini.
“We'll see,” Diggs replied. “Everybody is excited, man. I'm just, like, taking it day by day.”
However, he does feel good about where he's at this far in his recovery.
“I feel great. I mean, I'm pushing the needle always,” Diggs added. “I'm always on doing more than less. And you know we'll see about Week 1. I don't know how I feel about it. We'll see. Coaches aren't too excited about it. I'm not too excited, I'm just trying to take it day by day, so we'll see.”
Diggs, coming off a torn ACL injury, signed a three-year, $63.5 million deal with the Patriots as a free agent.
