Eagles' Vic Fangio Says Brandon Graham 'Can't Retire' After Season-Ending Injury

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is not ready to see defensive end Brandon Graham retire after the 2024 season.

"He can't retire on an incomplete year," Fangio told reporters on Wednesday.

Graham will miss the rest of his 15th campaign with the Eagles after suffering a torn triceps during Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Rams. The veteran defender, who turns 37 in April, played this season on a one-year contract.

He registered a sack before the injury, increasing his career total to 76.5 and moving him to third among all Eagles pass rushers.

Graham had added two tackles for loss, three quarterback hits and broke up a pass before leaving the game.

Graham told reporters he had been dealing with tendinitis in his elbow before the latest injury.

When asked immediately after the game if he was thinking about next year, Graham said he hadn't "thought that far."

"Just trying to process everything right now... If anything, if I was going to go out happy with the way I played today, I couldn't ask for nothing else," Graham said.

Graham previously said before the 2024 season opener that he was preparing for his "last year" in the NFL.

Three weeks into the season, however, he told reporters he was considering a 16th season.

"Honestly, I'm going to stay ready just for one more year," Graham said during the lead-up to Week 4 (h/t NBC Sports' Reuben Frank.) "Just in case if a situation popped up where it's like, 'OK, they need me'... Either way, I'm going to be a part of whatever they're doing next year. As a player, who knows? But I might stay ready another year depending on how everything goes this year.

"I just want to be able to help in whatever role because I know where they're going right now and I want to be a part of that."

Graham has already set a franchise record with 206 games played. If Fangio has his way, the Eagles would be happy to increase that standard by signing him for another season should the veteran defender decide to return to the NFL in 2025.

Before making that decision, Graham said he plans to remain around the team as "the best leader I can be" as the Eagles look to make it back to the Super Bowl for the third time since the 2017 season this winter.