Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham recently found himself at the center of a media frenzy after comments he made about teammates A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts during a radio interview. This week, Graham addressed the controversy directly by apologizing to the team in a meeting, aiming to put the matter to rest. In a show of unity, Hurts and Brown exchanged a handshake in front of the team to signal that any perceived rift had been resolved.
The drama began after the Eagles’ narrow 22-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers last week. Brown—known for his fiery passion and high standards—told reporters that the team’s passing game needed improvement. His remarks were quickly interpreted as criticism of quarterback Jalen Hurts, fueling rumors of tension between the two star players.
Brandon Graham inadvertently stoked the flames during an interview on a local radio station. “I know 1 is trying and 11 could be better with how he responds to things,” Graham said, referring to Hurts and Brown by their jersey numbers. “They were friends before this, but things have changed, and I understand that because life happens. But it’s the business side that we have to make sure doesn’t get in the way of the personal.”
These comments quickly went viral, intensifying speculation about the state of the Eagles’ locker room. Brown later clarified his original statement, explaining that his critique of the passing game wasn’t directed at Hurts but at the offense as a whole. “It was misconstrued,” Brown told reporters. Meanwhile, Hurts, when asked about their relationship, kept it brief: “We’re good.”
The incident even caught the attention of NFL legend Michael Strahan, who weighed in during a broadcast segment. Strahan pointed out that while Brown is undeniably one of the league’s elite receivers, he needs to avoid public airing of frustrations. “Handle this in the locker room, don’t handle it in the public,” Strahan said. “Right now, the team is winning. Offenses evolve, and sometimes you have to adapt.”
Despite the noise, the Eagles remain in strong contention for the playoffs, sitting just one game behind the Detroit Lions for home-field advantage and a first-round bye. The team’s ability to maintain cohesion and focus will be critical as they push for a deep postseason run. For now, all eyes will be on whether the Eagles can translate this moment of internal reckoning into unity and success on the field.
