Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl winner Bryan Braman has died aged 38 after battling a rare form of cancer that returned despite the NFL star undergoing treatment
Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl winner Bryan Braman has died at the age of 38 after battling a rare form of cancer. His agent, Sean P Stellato, confirmed his death Thursday.
The former NFL defensive end leaves behind two daughters, Blakely and Marlowe, aged 11 and eight. He once described his seven NFL seasons, his Super Bowl win and his daughters as “the three greatest accomplishments in my life”.
Diagnosed in February, Braman’s unspecified condition was later revealed in a GoFundMe effort aimed at covering his medical expenses. His former Texans team-mate, JJ Watt, personally donated $10,000 (£7,461). When the news of his death broke Watt said on social media: “Rest in Peace brother. Gone far too soon.”
Qualified NFL players are eligible for health insurance for five years after they retire. Braman’s final season came in 2017 – the Super Bowl being his last ever professional game. The GoFundMe campaign raised nearly $90,000 (£67,153) for Braman.
Organiser William Jones said in June that Braman was “home with his family after undergoing a Car-t cell reprogramming treatment program in Seattle.” The treatment initially appeared successful and his cells started “reproducing within his bone marrow,” claimed to Jones. But while the mass began shrinking, the “cancer started fighting back”.
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He was known for his punt blocking ability and during their Super Bowl run when Braman blocked a punt by the Atlanta Falcons in a tight 15-10 win in the divisional round. He recorded one tackle in the Super Bowl as the Eagles beat the New England Patriots 41-33 to win their first NFL championship since 1960.
Braman attended three colleges before stints with the Houston Texas, The Eagles and New Orleans Saints before he returned for a second spell in Philadelphia.
Although he was 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 was adored by his team-mates and former Eagles colleague Chris Long said: “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’.”