Super Bowl champion Bryan Braman dead at 38 after battling cancer
The former NFL defensive end and member of the Philadelphia Eagles leaves behind two daughters. The Eagles' Super Bowl LII victory in February of 2018 was his final appearance in the NFL.
Diagnosed in February, Bryan'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.
A June 20 update by GoFundMe 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.
He added: 'Bryan has not given up. He is looking into other trial treatment programs, and is determined to never give up.'
The campaign raised nearly $90,000 for Bryan.
Brian Braman getting the Eagles fired up before Super Bowl 52.
R.I.P. champion 🦅 pic.twitter.com/6M3hS4PuLj
— Brenden Deeg (@BrendenDeeg_) July 17, 2025
Although he went undrafted out of Idaho in 2011, Bryan 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.
He moved on to Philadelphia in 2014 and New Orleans in 2017, but suffered an injury and was placed on injured reserve before being released.
He then signed the Eagles in December before blocking a punt from the Atlanta Falcons' Matt Bosher in a 15-10 divisional-round playoff win.
Bryan later recorded a single tackle in the Eagles' 41-33 Super Bowl LII win over the New England Patriots in February of 2018.
But his biggest contributions for the Eagles may have come in the locker room, according to former teammate Chris Long.
Long told the Ryen Russillo podcast in 2020: 'We had a guy named Bryan Braman, special teams guy, looks like he's in a biker gang, long hair.
'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"."
There has been an outpouring of grief on social media since news of Bryan'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.'
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