Brandon Graham’s influence extends to the Chiefs locker room; Andy Reid has his new DeSean Jackson in Xavier Worthy

NEW ORLEANS — Brandon Graham’s impact on the Eagles is immeasurable. During Graham’s 15 seasons with the Birds, he’s been a leader on the field, in the locker room, and in the community, mentoring a generation of Eagles players.

But Graham’s impact is also still felt in his hometown of Detroit, and at his alma mater, Michigan, even though he graduated in 2010.

”There was always that big brother-type connection,” Chiefs linebacker and Michigan alum Josh Uche said. “Fortunately for me, I was able to jersey swap with him last year, which was a really cool moment for me. One 55 to another 55, which was pretty cool. He’s that ‘Michigan Man’ that you look up to while you’re in college. He’s the epitome of what it means to be a Michigan Man. All the years he’s put in, the big-play moments he’s had. It’s an honor to call him a Michigan brother.”

Graham comes back to Ann Arbor for Michigan pro days and is still connected with the new generation of alumni. “He’s always coaching guys up,” Uche said.

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Chiefs defensive end Michael Danna, a fellow Detroit native and Michigan alum, grew up watching Graham’s highlights. Now, after attending Michigan, he counts Graham as a mentor and a friend.

”He’s always just trying to give out the gems,” Danna said. The best piece of advice he got from Graham? “Just be in the moment. Don’t drum on the past. Don’t look toward the future. Just focus on your task.”

Super Bowl LIX might be Graham’s final game. Before the start of the year, Graham said he planned on his 15th season being his last. But after what was thought to be a season-ending torn triceps sidelined him in Week 12, Graham began to hedge his bets.

With the Eagles advancing as far as the Super Bowl, Graham is now striving toward a return from his injury. If Super Bowl LIX really is Graham’s last game, Danna believes it will be a big loss for the sport.

”The game needs guys like that,” Danna said. “Guys being authentic, being original. He’s one of those guys — as authentic as you’re going to get, as original, everything. He’s genuine, coming from the heart. I can’t say enough positive things. He’s a role model, an inspiration still to this day. I was looking at his highlight videos a few weeks ago!”

Xavier Worthy is the latest star speedster in Andy Reid’s arsenal. The fastest man in NFL combine history tallied 638 receiving yards and nine total touchdowns in his first NFL season, and now will play in his first Super Bowl.

At the combine, the Chiefs had one comparison in mind for Worthy — DeSean Jackson.

”Andy Reid, he had a perfect offense for me to come in and learn,” Worthy said. “DeSean Jackson, he had a guy similar to me, so he knew how to use a receiver like me … They showed me, actually, when I was at the combine, they showed me a DeSean Jackson clip. He was like, ‘This remind you of anybody?’”

Jackson, who played for Reid with the Eagles from 2008 to 2012, is one of Worthy’s favorite players, so it was a perfect fit.

”He’s arguably one of my favorite players of all time,” Worthy said. “His ability to get the ball and make a play, regardless of whether that’s a punt return, a bubble, a deep ball, catch the ball on the slant. He was disruptive anywhere on the field.”

Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco’s New Jersey roots run deep. Pacheco grew up rooting for the Eagles, attended Vineland High School — in Eagles country in South Jersey — and then played collegiately at Rutgers.

Now for the second time in his young NFL career, he’s pitted against his hometown team in the Super Bowl.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” said Pacheco, who had 15 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. “You see the best of the best competing to go to the top and compete at the highest level. Most importantly, knowing that family back home watching. That was the team that I grew up rooting for. Now Coach Reid is my coach.

“When he was on the Eagles, I was rooting for him on the Eagles. Now he’s with the Chiefs with us and I’m blessed to be here and to go out there and compete.”

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Pacheco is a big admirer of star Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, and trained with him once before Barkley got to the NFL. Watching Barkley play motivates him to work even harder, knowing that it’s possible.

“There’s a mutual respect,” Pacheco said. “I met Saquon when I was in college. I have a photo. I don’t know if he remembers it, he probably doesn’t. He was already training for the combine, getting his career started.

“Me, I was still in college, just getting out there, working, ready to train, just listening. For me, just knowing that you come with that mentality, I come with that mentality, it’s going to be a dogfight.”

Travis Kelce spent more than a decade watching his brother, Jason, under center for the Eagles, so he knows a thing or two about elite center play. After Jason’s retirement in the offseason, Cam Jurgens slid over to fill his place, and Travis said Jurgens has quickly become one of his favorites in the league.

”I hate to say it, but I’m used to watching the center in Philly, and [Jurgens] stepped right in as one of my favorite guys to watch,” Kelce said. “Cam is unbelievable. He’s been so cool to me every time I get around Philly. Without Jason, he has done an unbelievable job this year, taking the bull by the horns and really being the middle piece up front for them.

“That offensive line, that’s the motor over there in Philly, and I think that it’s going to be a tough, tough job stopping them on Sunday.”