Philadelphia Eagles legend Brandon Graham has never been one to shy away from a little trash talk-especially when it involves the New York Giants.

Even in retirement, Graham continues to stir the pot, and his latest jab came during an appearance at Fanatics Fest in New York City, where he playfully mocked Giants fans over the team’s decision to let star running back Saquon Barkley walk in free agency.

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Graham was participating in “The Champs Are Here” panel alongside fellow Eagles icons Deuce Staley, Brian Dawkins, Cooper DeJean, and Nick Foles.

When asked about his favorite trash talk moment, he didn’t miss a beat. “I guess my new thing is, I’m thanking Giants fans right now,” he said with a grin. “Thank you to every Giants fan out there… Thank you for not being smart. Your team let us get Saquon.”

Graham’s comments came with a wink, but they weren’t without merit. The Giants made headlines when they chose to prioritize quarterback Daniel Jones-handing him a four-year, $160 million contract-while allowing Barkley, a two-time Pro Bowler and offensive cornerstone, to test the free-agent market.

Despite years of production, leadership, and playing through injuries, Barkley was not retained.

Barkley’s rise, Giants’ regret

The Eagles didn’t hesitate. They inked Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million contract, including $26 million guaranteed-a deal that would soon pay major dividends. In his first season in Philadelphia, Barkley delivered arguably the best year of his career, rushing for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns, while also recording 278 receiving yards and two receiving scores.

His efforts earned him NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors and helped drive the Eagles to their second Super Bowl championship in six years.

One of the most satisfying moments for both Barkley and Eagles fans came in Week 7. Returning to MetLife Stadium, Barkley torched his former team with 176 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries, leading Philadelphia to a dominant 28-3 win over the Giants.

By season’s end, Barkley had accounted for nearly 35% of the Eagles’ total offensive production, racking up 2,283 scrimmage yards.

Graham, who spent 15 seasons racking up 76.5 sacks-eight of them against the Giants-was all smiles as he continued his rivalry off the field. “It’s a beautiful thing,” he said. “They gave us their best player, and we turned him into a champion.”

As the Giants continue to face scrutiny for letting Barkley go, Graham’s playful jab now feels like something more: a brutal reminder that in the NFL, mistakes don’t just hurt-they haunt.

Saquon Barkley knows a great team when he sees one — and in his eyes, last year’s Philadelphia Eagles were more than just great. They were legendary.

During a recent appearance on a podcast hosted by a pair of Eagles defenders, the All-Pro running back stirred up debate across the league by suggesting that the 2024 squad deserves a spot among the top five teams in NFL history. That’s a bold claim — one that’s earned side-eyes from some former stars who’ve played on or against teams that helped define entire eras.

One of those voices belongs to a Super Bowl champion who’s never been afraid to speak his mind — and he’s challenging Barkley’s take.

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Barkley’s comments came during an episode of “Excited Mics,” a podcast hosted by Eagles teammates Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship. The conversation turned reflective, with Barkley explaining why he views the 2024 Eagles as not just dominant in the moment — but historically great.

“I firmly believe when you look at our team that we had last year — I know we’re not looking too far into the past — but our team last year, I think we’re a top-five team of all time,” Barkley claimed. “I tell my boys this all the time. We started off 2-2 … but if you really look at the season outside the first four games, it was belt to a**.”

And it’s hard to argue with how the season played out. After the early stumble, the Eagles rattled off 10 wins in their final 11 regular season games, outscoring opponents 329-188 down the stretch. They carried that momentum into the playoffs, steamrolling their way to a Super Bowl blowout of the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22.

“We didn’t care how it looked,” Barkley said. “The only thing we cared about was winning football games. When you have the talent and skill that we have… teams really stood no chance.”

But while Barkley sees the 2024 Eagles as one of the most complete teams ever assembled, not everyone is ready to rewrite the history books. NFL analyst Keyshawn Johnson pushed back on FS1’s “Speak Live,” citing iconic squads like the undefeated 1972 Dolphins, the 1985 Bears, and the 1970s Steelers as the true benchmark of greatness.

“This era, when I was playing, you start looking at the Dallas Cowboys, the Baltimore Ravens, the San Francisco 49ers,” said Johnson. “Let’s not talk about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Barkley would’ve had seven yards against our defense … just keeping it real.”

While Johnson’s take focused on the teams he played with or against, he didn’t mention other dynasties like Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers or Bill Belichick’s Tom Brady-led New England Patriots — both of which would be in nearly every credible top-five conversation.

“When you start breaking it down historically, they’re not there yet,” he added. “They gotta win a couple more [Super Bowls].”

No one is questioning how good the 2024 Eagles were — not after a dominant postseason run and a complete Super Bowl performance that left little doubt about who owned the moment. But greatness over time is a different conversation, and as far as NFL legends are concerned, Philly still has more to prove before they join the all-time inner circle.

Eagles Legend Trashes Two-Time Super Bowl Winner originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Few quarterbacks in NFL history have had the kind of success former Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger experienced.

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The former Miami of Ohio quarterback won two Super Bowls with the Steelers, reached a third, and is the record holder in every passing category for the storied franchise.

Over the coming years, he might eventually be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame.

The same may not be true for one of the Philadelphia Eagles’ own record holders.

Like Roethlisberger with the Steelers, LeSean McCoy owns many of Philadelphia’s career records as a runner. While he may not be as much of a sure-fire Hall-of-Famer as “Big Ben,” McCoy isn’t thrilled with one of the quarterback’s latest football takes.

Roethlisberger recently said on his podcast, “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger,” that he would take Aaron Rodgers over Patrick Mahomes if they were both in their prime simultaneously.

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McCoy took offense to those comments on FS1’s The Facility. The All-Pro running back made it clear how disrespectful Roethlisberger’s remarks were.

“One thing about Big Ben, you play 18 years, you have no All-Pros, not one, not one first-team, not one second-team,” McCoy said. “This is just me, I don’t respect players that talk about greats a certain way, and you have nowhere the type of success they had.

“You played for 18 years, and you never was considered the best quarterback or the second-best quarterback in football.”

There are many ways to quantify success in the league beyond just All-Pros or Pro Bowl nominations. Roethlisberger’s postseason heroics are considered even more impactful than McCoy’s regular-season success.

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Big Ben may not have been considered in the same light as Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, but the signal-caller was special in his own right.

It is his prerogative to judge quarterbacks. McCoy’s clapback will not mean much as a former player at a completely different position. … Whether people agree with Roethlisberger’s take or not.

Related: Saquon Turns to Tiger in Quest for NFL History

Related: Eagles’ Hated Rival Gives Shocking Love To ‘Aggressive’ Fanbase

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.

The frustration over the Cowboys’ long title drought has reached even its greatest legends. Emmitt Smith, a Cowboys icon and Hall of Famer, did not hold back when talking about the years that have passed since the last time the franchise reached a Super Bowl. A three-time winner in the glorious 1990s, the former running back did not hide his disappointment at the direction the organization has taken.

During an interview with Sports Radio 94WIP, Smith not only lamented the lack of championships, but also pointed out that the lack of evolution and planning has been one of the franchise’s biggest mistakes. “It’s amazing that we haven’t been in a Super Bowl in the last 30 years; it’s a real shame,” he said bluntly. “I’m sick of it. We’ve allowed others to criticize the star symbol and make fun of it,” he added.

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The lack of renewal in the team is one of the great failures

Smith was a key part of the Cowboys’ last dynasty, a team that dominated the NFL and lifted three Lombardi trophies in just four years. That is why he does not understand how a franchise with such historical weight has been unable to reinvent itself in that time. “That bothers me, it bothers me because deep down I believe that our organization should be competing for a National Conference championship, even to be in a Super Bowl at least once or twice every decade,” said the former player.

The legendary driver pointed to a lack of recycling and adaptation as one of the main causes of stagnation. “All teams recycle every decade and we haven’t been like that,” he insisted. For Smith, the problem is not only the lack of titles, but the absence of direction to compete again at the highest level.

The Eagles, a wound that remains open for Smith

Smith’s disappointment is not limited to what happens within the team. The fact that their historic divisional rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, have won two Super Bowls in recent years is something that generates even more frustration. “Now, all of a sudden, in the last 20 years, Eagles win two Super Bowls and they think they’re the best on the planet, and wherever I go I hear ‘Go, Birds!'” he vehemently criticised.

The former player, who still holds the record for rushing yards in NFL history, made it clear that his love for the Cowboys does not prevent him from speaking candidly about the team’s present. And while he acknowledges past accomplishments, his focus is on the lack of recent ambition: “I’m tired of hearing that,” he said.

Since that victory over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX in 1996, the Cowboys have not only failed to lift another trophy, but have not even managed to reach another conference final. Smith’s criticism is not just a nostalgic complaint: it is a reflection of an urgent need for change at one of the NFL’s most iconic franchises.

Settling in at the press conference table, flanked by two Lombardi Trophies — sheened and shimmering, likely polished that morning — sat a true Philadelphia Eagles’ legend named Brandon Graham.

The 36-year-old was trying to read a prepared statement announcing his retirement from football, fighting back the shiny tears as they streaked down his face, and threatened to outdazzle the championship hardware next to him.

Graham — the 13th overall pick of the Eagles in the 2010 NFL Draft — surrendered to emotion and coughed up a fitting farewell one month after winning his second Super Bowl. He said: “No regrets. That’s the one thing I tell them young boys, I don’t have no regrets.”

He officially retired as one of the most prolific pass rushers in Eagles’ history, with 76.5 sacks, and only two names ahead of him on the team’s all-time list. Graham left on his own terms, going out on top following a dominant 40-20 revenge rout in Super Bowl 59.

His 15 NFL seasons, all with the Eagles, are tied for the most in franchise history. And his 206 regular-season games (plus 20 playoff contests), all played in the same uniform, rank first in franchise history, probably etched in stone for eternity.

“Fifteen years ago, I walked into this city as a young boy with dreams, big dreams, a little bit of nervousness and a whole lot of fire in my heart,” Graham told reporters. “I had no idea back then what this journey would bring. I didn’t know how many times I would be tested. I didn’t know how much I would grow. And I surely didn’t know how deeply I would fall in love with these fans and the team in this city.”

It wasn’t always easy for the Detroit native with the mega-watt smile. He was tested in his first few years in Philly, labeled a bust and an injury risk. The Eagles nearly let him walk in free agency in 2015, eventually, the two sides agreed on a four-year, $26 million deal. John Stockton would have a hard time finding an easier steal than the Eagles did.

“When they put that bust label on me, that was tough,” Graham said. ” I didn’t want to go outside. I didn’t want to do nothing.”

Graham was still trying to find his footing in 2010 as one of the first tweeners, stuck somewhere between defensive end and linebacker, with sacks coming in short supply (17). He thanked Andy Reid for drafting him and looking him in the eye, man to man. Big Red told him he belonged in the NFL, then the next regime — head coach Doug Pederson and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz — showed him where he fit on the chess board.

“Shout out to Schwartz,” Graham said. “That opportunity came, and I didn’t look back.”

Super Bowl Champion: From Battered Bust to Brady Beater

Football – NFL – Super Bowl LIX – Philadelphia Eagles v Kansas City Chiefs – Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States – February 9, 2025 Philadelphia Eagles’ Brandon Graham celebrates with family after winning Super Bowl LIX REUTERS/Mike Segar

Two Super Bowl rings later, the one-time Pro Bowler has a strong case to be on the Eagles’ Mount Rushmore. His strip-sack on Tom Brady in Super Bowl 52 has a permanent place on the walls at the NovaCare Complex as artwork, never to be forgotten or plastered over.

“That’s always going to be a good one because a Michigan guy against another Michigan guy,” Graham said of the Brady sack. “I just happened to be there but that was all of us. The person who took away his first read, that’s the guy I need to thank because all that stuff worked together.”

That one play — Graham still has it set it as his background on Twitter — erased years and years of hurt for a city starved for a championship. And it softened up a fan base which once hurled criticism at him for not living up to the hardened expectations of a first-round pick.

“We didn’t start so tight, you made me work for this, and I appreciate you for that,” Graham said of Philadelphia. “Through the struggles, the injuries, and the moments when I had to prove myself over and over again, you never let me get comfortable. You held me accountable. You kept that chip on my shoulder.

“You pushed me to be better and when the time came, we celebrated together, two times. This city is built on hard work, resilience, and unmatched passion. And you bring the same energy to every game, every moment, every season. Your loyalty, your fire, and your unwavering support means everything to me.”

Graham will go down as one of the best trash talkers in Philly sports history, a spittle-flecked reputation he wore proudly at all times. After their latest NFC Championship Game win, Graham was giddily chiding reporters for counting the Eagles out when they were sitting on a 2-2 record.

“I am happy to not have the stresses of y’all no more,” Graham said, laughing, and pointing at reporters. “The ups and downs of me saying some stuff, and then the next thing I know I got to live through the week.”

The affable edge rusher often exchanged smack with his teammates at practice, too, specifically Lane Johnson and Fletcher Cox. Both those guys loved giving it back to him. But, expectedly and on brand, the most vitriol came in those Dallas matchups.

“Anything with Dallas, man,” Graham said. “I’m always talking stuff to Dak [Prescott]. Dak be cool out there when we have our back and forth.”

What’s Next for Brandon Graham?

Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham speaks with the media during a press conference at Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Unsurprisingly, Graham has no plans to retire the trash talking or lose the camaraderie of the locker room. While his playing days are 100% over — “I’m ending on my terms and I’m thankful for this moment,” he said — the two-time Super Bowl champion plans to continue to rehab his retorn triceps at the Eagles’ practice facility. He also has a dinner date with owner Jeffrey Lurie on the calendar to discuss his future with the only franchise he’s ever known.

“I want to make sure that I can be a help,” Graham said. “I don’t want to go cold turkey, just leaving the game. I love football too much.”

Whatever that is, stay tuned. If Graham’s 100-miles-per-hour career was any indication, he’s going to do it with the same force he used when he sacked Tom Brady in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 52.

Other nuggets from Brandon Graham’s nearly 40-minute Eagles’ retirement ceremony…

Dec 25, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (55) runs off the field after win against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Graham thought long and hard about returning for one more season. In fact, he was leaning toward coming back after the triceps injury ended his 2024 season early.

“If I don’t make it back to the Super Bowl I probably wouldn’t be up here right now, I promise you. I’d be begging to come back for one more. I was happy to make it back and be able to play with my guys and put that uniform on one more time in a big moment on the big stage.”

Graham admitted that the Eagles took the Super Bowl loss to Kansas City really hard in 2023. They were determined to get back and avenge that defeat.

“We owed them from the first one and we didn’t forget it. That one stung. And we didn’t run from that moment either. In that moment, when … I wanted to run. I wanted to go straight to that locker room, but I went out there and I faced it and that’s what we all did. We all faced it.”

On winning two Super Bowl championships for the Philadelphia Eagles:

“We made something that can never be taken away, two championships, two of them. We made history together and while the trophies and rings are incredible, what I’ll cherish most are the moments, the locker room laughs. I mean … Lane [Johnson], Fletch [Cox], J Hurts, all of them boys know I feel about them. Them on-field battles we went through — it was a chemistry like none other and I’m going to always remember that because that’s what helped me in those moments when they called me a bust. JP [Jason Peters], Trent Cole … lifelong friendships that I’ll cherish forever.”

Graham passes the torch over to 24-year-old Nolan Smith:

“I just told Nolan, now this is your room. Now you’re the guy. Now you’re the oldest guy in that room.”

LIX REUTERS/Mike Segar