Former Eagles Player Bryan Braman Passes Away At 38
Bryan Braman, a beloved figure in Philadelphia and Houston, has died after a courageous fight against a rare and aggressive cancer. Diagnosed in February 2025, the former linebacker spent his final months undergoing experimental treatments—including CAR‑T therapy and multiple surgeries—in Seattle. Despite early signs of improvement, complications from a weakened immune system allowed the disease to spread rapidly and claim his life on July 17, 2025, at just 38 years old.
An undrafted free agent who entered the league in 2011, Braman quickly distinguished himself as a fearless special teams ace. His unforgettable helmet‑less tackle on a punt return during his rookie season with the Houston Texans remains a highlight of his tough‑as‑nails playing style. After three impactful seasons in Houston, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014. He returned to the fold in late 2017, making a game‑changing blocked punt in the divisional playoff before helping secure the Eagles’ historic Super Bowl LII victory over the New England Patriots—his final NFL appearance.
Off the field, Braman cherished two daughters—Blakely (11) and Marlowe (8)—and counted his 2018 Super Bowl win among his “three greatest accomplishments.” A GoFundMe campaign launched to support his mounting medical expenses raised more than $88,000, with significant contributions from former teammates like J.J. Watt.
One teammate reflected, “Bryan, people saw this enormous human being, but his heart was as big as his body,” words that echo the genuine kindness Braman carried throughout his life—even in adversity.
The football world mourns the loss of a warrior whose tenacity defined both his career and his final battle. Braman’s memory lives on—in the hearts of his daughters, former teammates, and fans who admired a man who gave everything, every time.
