Bryan Braman, a former NFL defensive end and member of the Super Bowl LII-champion Philadelphia Eagles, has died at 38 after battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
His agent, Sean P. Stellato, confirmed his death Thursday.
The Spokane, Washington native leaves behind two daughters.
A journeyman edge rusher who attended three colleges before stints with the Houston Texas, Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Eagles again, Braman primarily contributed on special teams and once blocked a punt in a divisional-round playoff game.
The Eagles’ Super Bowl LII victory in February of 2018 was his final appearance in the NFL.
Diagnosed in February, Braman’s unspecified condition was later revealed in a GoFundMe drive aimed at covering his medical expenses. His former Texans teammate, JJ Watt, personally donated $10,000, while others such as Emmanuel Acho spread the word on social media.
Bryan Braman, the former NFL linebacker and member of the Super Bowl LII-champion Philadelphia Eagles , has died from a rare form of cancer at 38
A GoFundMe has been set up to help raise money for Braman’s cancer treatment
A June 20 update by organizer William Jones explained that ‘Bryan is home with his family after undergoing a Car-t cell reprogramming treatment program in Seattle.’
Initially the Car-t cell reprogramming appeared successful and his cells started ‘reproducing within his bone marrow,’ according to Jones. But while the mass began shrinking, the ‘cancer started fighting back,’ Jones explained.
‘Bryan has not given up,’ Jones wrote. ‘He is looking into other trial treatment programs, and is determined to never give up.’
The GoFundMe campaign raised nearly $90,000 for Braman.
‘At Stellato Sports, Bryan Braman has always stood for strength, resilience and leadership,’ Stellato told KPRC 2 in Houston prior to his death. ‘He is a pillar and a staple of the underdog.’
Although he went undrafted out of Idaho in 2011, Braman developed a bit of a cult following as a special teams contributor in Houston, blocking several punts, including one for a touchdown. He was named as a Pro Bowl alternate in 2012.
Braman moved on to Philadelphia in 2014 and New Orleans in 2017, but suffered an injury and was placed on injured reserve before being released.
That proved fortuitous for Braman, who signed with the Eagles in December before blocking a punt from the Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Bosher in a 15-10 divisional-round playoff win.
Braman later recorded a single tackle in the Eagles’ 41-33 Super Bowl LII win over the New England Patriots in February of 2018.
Braman is pictured with his children after Super Bowl LII, which turned out to be his last game
But his biggest contributions for the Eagles may have come in the locker room, according to former teammate Chris Long.
‘… we had a guy named Bryan Braman, special teams guy, looks like he’s in a biker gang, long hair,’ Long told the Ryen Russillo podcast in 2020.
‘Bryan Braman was an absolute psychopath and he was like our cameo speech guy. And sometimes he would just, real impromptu, start screaming and looking like a fucking hedgehog, knocking shit over in the locker room, eyes bulging out of his head.
‘And, of course, he did look like a Sons of Anarchy dude so you were like, yeah, I’m listening. But Braman got going Super Bowl Sunday and I was like, “Yeah, you got it, bro.”
Since then, Braman had a cameo role in a Jake Miller country music video and he’s made the occasional public appearance at celebrity flag football or basketball events.
There has been an outpouring of grief on social media since news of Braman’s death was revealed. Eagles fans, in particular, have been offering their thoughts and prayers online.
‘Phenomenal human being and forever a champion,’ one such fan wrote. ‘Rest in peace, Bryan.’