‘I know me, and I needed a mentor’

For 23 seasons, Pastor Ted Winsley has been the chaplain for the Eagles.

Pastor Ted Winsley and the team hold Bible study every Wednesday in the Defensive Backs Room at the NovaCare Complex. Each night before a game, they host a chapel service.

Over the years, he’s made connections with countless players ranging from Brian Dawkins, who he still talks to twice a week, to Ike Reese and Jeremiah Trotter Sr. But the relationship Winsley made with Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham was quite unique.

“Of my 23 years of being a chaplain, Brandon’s been there for 15. I met Brandon as a young rookie. I met him at a time of his life where he was really desiring to just kind of change his life. I met him at a difficult time – we talk about this often that the first five years after being a first-round pick – they used the ‘b’ word that he was a bust,” Pastor Ted said. “Of course, he was also injured much of that time, so that was really how I met him.”

Pastor Ted began mentoring Graham early in his career. The Pastor also does marital and premarital counseling, and has married several Eagles players including Graham, Dawkins, Brian Westbrook, Sheldon Brown, and more.

Graham started to tell Pastor Ted about his then friend and now wife, Carlyne, and she joined the journey he was embarking on.

“I know for me; we care about the men more than the player. And so, I can tell that was him all day,” Graham said. “Just getting to know him as a person every day, every week, you know, I’m saying from, since I started, and it’s been cool to see him still be here and be entrusted with leading the guys. I’m just thankful that I didn’t shy away from the relationship, because I know me, and I needed a mentor.”

The former Michigan Wolverine missed a lot of games early in his career, playing in only 16 games in his first two seasons due to injuries.

“We now look at that as a blessing, because that extended his career. I absolutely believe it’s one of reasons why he’s playing as long as he has, because he endured those seasons of pressure and strain and injury,” Pastor Ted said.

Graham’s love of the game may have waned early in his career, but through his faith and relationship with Winsley, he came out of the shell that was holding him back.

The former first-rounder took on a new perspective and everything else took off from there.

“Brandon by nature is a joyful person. By nature, he’s a big-hearted person…