LBCC alum Bryan Braman fulfilled a lifelong dream last month when he won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, completing a journey from struggling Vikings student to the peak of the football world.
Braman literally sealed the game for the Eagles, making the final tackle of the game and setting off the team’s celebration.
“I didn’t have one tackle all game, there was no way I could play in the Super Bowl without recording a stat,” he said with a laugh on Thursday afternoon in a brief ceremony at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Braman was greeted by LBCC president Reagan Romali, athletic director Randy Totorp, head football coach Brett Peabody, several current Vikings players, and other school officials and board of trustees members. Also on hand was Jerry Jaso, the coach who recruited him to LBCC and coached him his first year, and Mike Reisbig, his head coach his second year with the Vikings.
“Bryan was just an all-around athlete,” said Jaso. Braman told LBCC’s track coach he could throw javelin and proceeded to throw a state-leading mark on his first try, going on to win a state championship that year. He also cleared 6-foot-11 on his first try at the high jump.
Since leaving the Vikings, Braman played with West Texas A&M and then went on to a seven-year NFL career, primarily with the Houston Texans and the Eagles. Last year he was cut by the Saints after being placed on injured reserve and then signed with the Eagles after Carson Wentz’s injury opened up a spot on the roster.
Braman took time to pose for pictures and sign autographs, including one for Vikings lineman Mitchell Kay, a lifelong Eagles fan who came in a jersey, wearing an Eagles Super Bowl champion hat.
Braman said that LBCC was an important stop on his journey, as he came to the Vikings after a season at Idaho.
“The coaches here helped me to focus on my goal and to get my grades right and get ready for life at the next level,” he said. “I would never have made it without them.”
