Bryan Braman, a former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker and Super Bowl champion, has died at 38. His agent, Sean Stellato, confirmed the news on July 17.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that Braman had been battling a rare and aggressive cancer. A GoFundMe page was launched to help cover his medical costs. The fundraiser raised over $88,000, with the largest contribution—$10,000—coming from former teammate J.J. Watt.
“Rest in Peace brother,” Watt wrote on X. “Gone far too soon.”
The loss was personal for Stellato, who shared just how much Braman meant to him. “Bryan, people saw this enormous human being, but his heart was big as his body,” Stellato told KPRC 2.
“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.”
Braman played in the NFL from 2011 to 2017. He started with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent and later joined the Philadelphia Eagles. Braman re-signed with the Eagles for the 2017 postseason and played in the team’s Super Bowl LII win. He didn’t play another NFL game after that championship.
Bryan had played college football at Long Beach City College, Idaho, and West Texas A&M. Those who knew him often pointed to his physical traits—his height, size, and speed—as gifts passed down from his mother’s side.
He is survived by his mother and two daughters, now 11 and 8.
Let’s take a closer look at the life Bryan lived away from the field.
Who Are Bryan Braman’s Parents? His Family Details
He was raised by his mother, Tina Braman-Fields, a former high school sprint champion from Spokane, Washington. She won a state track title with John R. Rogers High School in 1986 and graduated the same year.
Braman often credited his mother and family for their support. “I try not to forget where I came from,” the late NFL star told Spokesman. “Or all we went through, and all the people who stood by me and shared their wisdom and support and provided those chances.”
His father, however, remained absent for most of his life and was rarely mentioned.
As for his imposing athletic build, it ran in the family. His maternal grandfather, Ivan Cecil Braman, stood 7-foot-4 and weighed 460 pounds—traits that clearly showed up in Bryan’s own frame on the field.
He Had Two Daughters: Was He Ever Married?
Public records never confirmed a marriage, and Braman didn’t appear to have a wife. But the athlete was a father to two daughters—Blakely and Marlowe, now 11 and 8.
While the identity of their mother remains unknown, sources mentioned she had been spotted with him at several games, often seen bringing their kids along to show support.
His Relationship With Qimmah Russo
There were rumors that Braman was once linked to fitness trainer and influencer Qimmah Russo.
The two were also spotted together at the Mike Tyson Standing United event and the Tyson Ranch Celebrity Golf Tournament in August 2019.
Still, neither Braman nor Russo ever confirmed the relationship.
