Brandon Graham walked into the locker room at the NovaCare Complex with a familiar smile across his face as reporters gathered around to speak with the defensive end.

Graham ended his seven-month retirement on Tuesday and is back for another season with the Birds, marking his 16th year in green, a franchise record.

Graham said the possibility of unretiring first came up before Za'Darius Smith, who ended up taking over Graham's locker, signed in Philadelphia after Week 1. Graham said he was trying to deal with retirement and work through not playing, so he decided not to come back, but he knew he couldn't pass up the opportunity if it presented itself again.

Then, Smith abruptly retired after Philadelphia's game against the Giants, and that's when the conversations with Graham started again.

"I knew I wasn't all the way done, honestly," he said. "... When Za'Darius retired, it just felt like it was the perfect thing to do. Cause obviously he was in my locker and to get it back and just to [say], 'Let's go do this thing again.' That's how I feel, it's like we got an opportunity again and [I] just wanna be able to just go to war with my brothers every week."

Graham ended last season standing under Midnight Green confetti as he became just one of four players in Eagles history to be part of both Super Bowl teams. It was seemingly the perfect ending to Graham's career, but he knows that moment will still be there no matter what happens this season.

"Reality set in. That storybook will still be there," Graham said. "But reality set in, I still had the urge, and of course, I felt like I was still on my game last year, and I still feel like I could help the team. If I didn't feel like that, man, I wouldn't be back. And [Executive Vice President/General Manager] Howie [Roseman] wouldn't have picked me up if that wasn't the case.

"But I think that it's a building process. I'm not expecting anything. I just want to help the guys, like I told the room. It's like, look, I'm here to just give you affirmations every day, and to work hard, and let's all be professionals, and let's try to build this thing and get us another one."

Graham began his age-37 season on Wednesday with his first practice. He said it felt like the first day of school, and the veteran even made a rookie mistake when he dressed up in full pads not knowing his teammates weren't doing the same.

Graham has been consistently working out, especially after the Eagles reached out before signing Smith. He said he knows he will be sore on Thursday, but he felt like he got solid work in during his first practice back.

"I felt good today," Graham said. "I'll just say that. ... It's such an honor to come back, man, and be back.

"... I don't feel too far off [of football shape], honestly, cause I've been training, training just like [it's] my whole Training Camp for the past two and a half, three months. And I feel good. Just feel like now it's just about trying to be able to talk my trash and work out at the same time."

Graham showed last season that he still can play at a high level. He had 3.5 sacks last year and was in the middle of his best game of the season against the Rams when he tore his triceps. An emotional Graham told reporters after the game that he was done for the season, but he tirelessly fought to get back and made his return in Super Bowl LIX.

Graham ultimately re-tore the same triceps in the Super Bowl, but he said he feels fully healthy now. "It's healed up, [my] body feels fresh," he said.

The Eagles face the Giants this Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. Graham said he will leave it up to the coaches to decide whether he's active, but if he is, it will be a special moment as one of the greatest Eagles of all time suits up once again. — Written by Matt Ryan