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 and by nature he's a leader. When I met him, I saw that, but the light was dimming," Pastor Ted said.
"I think what he learned is that while football is an amazing platform, that there's more to life than this. I think that's when he began to blossom. I think ultimately, that is what you see with him – he walks around excited about life. Then, football isn't a job or a chore, it's an opportunity. It's an opportunity to bring blessings to people, it's an opportunity to bring joy to people. It's an opportunity to connect with people and help people find their purpose with the platform."
When Graham announced he would be out for the season with a torn triceps in Week 12, one of the first things he talked about was trusting in God. He and Jalen Hurts said a prayer before they left the field that day.
"We pour everything we can into this game. When I say I trust God, I trust God," Graham said.
"Me being hurt now is just like you get that initial sting, because, of course, you still have plans, but then, God laughs at them. That's how it is. He laughs at them and tells you, 'I got something way better for you, if you believe it.' And so, I try to stay believing that, trying to make sure that I lean on my warriors, people that I know have been through some things. And they're going to always lead me to what I know is true, go to God's word. See what He says. If He says He's going to protect you and guide you through the storms that you go through, I got to trust that."
Pastor Ted was listening carefully to the message.
"I was proud. He made the comment too that, 'I have to take my own advice,' because those are things he's encouraged other people in. I think that's what faith is. Faith is seen not in the good times, faith is seen when things don't go so well, but you have the strength to have vision beyond your present circumstances," Pastor Ted said.
"This is what he's been preparing himself for in his relationship with God, for the good and bad. Like I said, realizing football isn't his purpose, it's his platform. So, when things go bad in football, it doesn't mean that God has changed or that he has to either."
As Graham and the Eagles enter the playoffs, he's going to continue to lead just as he's been taught by Pastor Ted.
"He's helped me help the other guys on my team. A lot of guys look up to me, and you want to be leading them in the right way and the best way you know how and what your heart's telling me to do. And so, I think, the mentor, the mentorship and the friendship, and just us being together is only helping me stay right and then helping me be able to be right for others," said Graham, who is the Eagles' nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for the second time in three years.
"In moments when I can share my testimony and what I've been through, if it's something similar that they can relate to, they'll listen. Sometimes they can't relate to it just yet, but eventually they'll see what I was saying because as long as you come in and are being true to who you are, and being true to a process that, some people are going to go through, they just haven't been through it yet, but you can see the light before they can.
"You got to find those little wins that it's like, OK, I might have lost here, but dang, I gained this. I lost this but I gained that, and so we just got to get over it at a faster pace than harping on it."
– Written by Liam Wichser
