For one night, former Eagles linebacker Bryan Braman was like family

When the news broke this morning that former Eagles linebacker Bryan Braman died overnight at the age of 38 after battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer, it hit harder than most. 

I knew Braman was ill. The story broke earlier this month about him seeking treatment for the cancer in Seattle. 

He was diagnosed in February. 

There was a GoFundMe that was started to help him with the costs of the treatment that was being pursued. It had raised more than $88,000. Former teammate J.J. Watt, who Braman played with when they were in Houston, was one of Braman's former teammates who donated, giving $10,000. 

Braman played seven seasons in the NFL, mostly as a special teams player. His first three seasons were with the Texans, but his last four were with the Eagles. 

He was a regular special teams player from 2014-2016 with the Birds, but then was out of football for most of 2017. He was added to the team just before the playoff push toward Super Bowl LII. 

He blocked a punt in the Divisional Playoff game against Atlanta, and the upset victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, which included an impassioned pre-game speech from Braman, was his last game.

Former Eagle Bryan Braman passed away at the age of 38 after fighting a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

The Eagles’ 2018 Super Bowl win was his final game.

RIP.

pic.twitter.com/Tp3pn8i49c

— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) July 17, 2025

He leaves behind two young daughters, ages 11 and eight.

What I've written about Braman so far is the stuff you will read in every other news outlet today about his death. 

What I'm about to write is something you won't read anywhere else. 

Rest peacefully, Bryan Braman. He’s one of the genuine guys who went out of his way to make other people smile. Bryan was the ideal special teams player. Really inspired teammates as seen in his pregame speech before the #Eagles won SB52. He came out to my radio show twice in… pic.twitter.com/PUTDSSl3qF

— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) July 17, 2025

I didn't really know Bryan Braman. During his time in Philadelphia, I didn't cover one Eagles game. 

But, I did an online radio show with someone who did know him - Rob Maaddi, who is the national NFL reporter for The Associated Press. 

During the 2016 season, we were looking to expand the reach of our show, and decided to do a live broadcast.

However, we needed to convince potential sponsors that we could pull this off first, so I had an idea. 

My sister and brother-in-law had opened a restaurant called La Sicilia several years earlier. But, they had just recently expanded it to include a banquet room in the back of the restaurant. 

Most people didn't know about it yet, so they were looking to let it be known in their community that they had a room that could accommodate up to 150 people.

So, I asked her if our show and promoting their banquet room could be a good marriage. 

She said, "If you can get some Eagles to come out with you, then I'll fill the room." 

The problem was, the restaurant is located in Oxford, PA - in southern Chester County, about an hour and 20 minutes from the Eagles practice facility. 

This was going to be tough. 

Former Eagle Bryan Braman poses with Victor and Danielle Mascali, owners of La Sicilia restaurant in Oxford, PA in 2016 (Credit: Anthony SanFilippo)

But Rob had a good working relationship with the players, and started asking around. There was interest, but none who were willing to take that far of a trek - except Braman. 

While Rob was giving Braman the details, I had convinced Eagles legend Bill Bergey to come as well, to at least give the promotion of the event a little more gravitas. 

After all, this was before the Super Bowl victory and Braman was just a special teams guy, so just having Braman likely wouldn't have been the biggest draw.

The event took place late in the 2016 season. As promised, my sister and brother-in-law packed the house. There wasn't an empty seat. It's not every day that a current professional athlete or even a legend of the past wanders into downtown Oxford, so the anticipation was palpable. Our show was just the setting. Bergey and Braman would be the star attractions. 

We had told Braman he would be needed for a 20-minute interview, and maybe stick around for a few photos and autographs. 

When I tell you he delivered more than that, I'm selling him short. 

Braman signed every autograph that was asked of him.  He took every photo that was asked. That in and of itself would have been enough. 

Braman with the Mascali/SanFilippo family in 2016 (Credit: Anthony SanFilippo)

But there was more. 

He hung around after the show was over. He sat at the bar and had a beer with some stragglers. He hung out with my dad and my uncle - both long-time Eagles season ticket holders - talking football, life, and anything else for a good half hour. 

As the staff at La Sicilia started breaking down the banquet room, Braman helped clear tables and carry stuff into the kitchen. It was like he was part of the family.

Once the staff was done, he hung out longer and did a celebratory shot - or two - with the staff. 

Braman getting ready to do a shot with La Sicilia employee Karla DiTomasso-Smith (Credit: DiTomasso-Smith on Facebook)

His commitment was for roughly 45 minutes. He turned it into an all night affair as he helped the restaurant shut down for the night. 

"Bryan was genuinely a good guy," Maaddi said when I reached out to him to ask for his memories of that night and of Braman in general. "He was humble, had a great personality and just enjoyed being around people. 

"He went out of his way to engage with fans, doing appearances on radio shows and community events, just to make others smile."

When you look at the pictures I included in this story, you can tell that Rob wasn't kidding. 

I never saw Braman again, in person, after that night, almost nine years ago now. Our time together was incredibly brief - just one cold night in a town closer to Maryland than Philadelphia. 

Braman taking selfies with the staff at La Sicilia in 2016 (Credit: Karla DiTomasso-Smith on Facebook)

But it was enough to make an impact on a lot of people - including me - and we will remember his kindness and generosity forever. 

Even more so now that he is gone way too soon.