Super Bowl champion Bryan Braman dies at age of 38 after cancer diagnosis
Braman's agent, Sean Stellato, said the linebacker, who also played for the Houston Texans, died on Thursday. He is survived by his 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'.
According to a GoFundMe page set up to help Braman with his medical expenses, he was diagnosed with cancer in February. The page had raised $88,000 and many of his former teammates had given donations, including JJ Watt, who contributed $10,000. Qualified NFL players are eligible for health insurance for five years after they retire. Braman's final season came in 2017, with the Super Bowl his last ever professional game.
'Bryan, people saw this enormous human being, but his heart was big as his body,' Stellato told Houston's KPRC 2 on Thursday. 'His spirit was so motivating. He was so real and genuine with everybody. That made him special.
'It's hard. I feel like I lost my firstborn. This kid, he gave me his bed every time I came to Philadelphia. He would threaten me if I didn't stay with him. That's something I'll always cherish. My heart hurts today.'
The 6ft 5in, 230lb Braman joined the Texans in 2011 as an undrafted free agent after stints with Long Beach City College, Idaho and West Texas A&M in college. He soon established himself on special teams thanks to his fearless play – he once made a tackle despite losing his helmet – and was known for his punt blocking ability.
One of Braman's most memorable moments came during the Eagles' Super Bowl run, not just for a highlight play, but for the way he rebounded from a costly mistake. In the second quarter of the divisional-round win over the Falcons, Braman dove to touch a live punted ball, a blunder that gave Atlanta a short field and led to their only touchdown of the game.
He didn't have to wait long for redemption. On the very next Falcons punt, Braman surged through the line and tipped the ball, forcing a 22-yard shank. Although he was initially flagged for running into the kicker, he immediately told officials he had made contact with the ball – a claim confirmed by replay, which wiped out the penalty.
'It was big for me,' he said after the game. 'I was able to keep my head in the game and turn it around.' The Eagles turned the short field into a 53-yard field goal by Jake Elliott, trimming the deficit to 10–9 just before half-time and swinging momentum in a game they would go on to win 15–10.
For Braman, it was a fitting example of his mentality: fearless, resilient and team-first. 'I just had to let it go and do my job,' he said. 'If I let it affect me, then I start reaching. That's when other bad things start to happen.'
He recorded one tackle in the Super Bowl itself as the Eagles beat the New England Patriots 41-33 to win their first NFL championship since the 1960 season.
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