Brandt, who has spent seven years at the club, will leave Borussia Dortmund when his contract expires in the summer, ending a long spell as one of their key creative figures.
The midfielder started in his usual advanced role behind striker Serhou Guirassy in Dortmund's final home league fixture of the 2025-26 season.
The evening also highlighted the emergence of 18-year-old Samuele Inacio. Handed his first start for the club after five substitute appearances earlier in the campaign, the Italian operated alongside Brandt in a supporting attacking role.
He made a decisive impact by scoring Dortmund's third goal in the second half, helping to settle a closely contested match.
Inacio's strike was his first for Borussia Dortmund and also saw him become one of the youngest Italian players ever to score in the Bundesliga, reinforcing his growing reputation within the squad.
"We've seen a bit of a generational change today. Jule has had a great seven years here," said Kovac.
"With Samuele, I have to be careful not to say too much and not to raise expectations too high.
"He has shown today and in recent games that he wants it, he does it, he gets things done. He fights and works hard off the ball, and he's very good on it - he's already created plenty of chances.
"[He could] perhaps become Jule's replacement somewhere - even if that's just in quotation marks for now."
Borussia Dortmund secured a second-place finish in the Bundesliga with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt at the Westfalenstadion, ending a poor run of form.
Niklas Sule has announced that he will retire from football at the end of the season, at the age of 30, once his contract with Borussia Dortmund expires.
We take a look at Sunday's Bundesliga action which saw important goals and shifts on the league table, with European football and relegation looming.
Jobe Bellingham has said he planned to stay at Borussia Dortmund for the long term after reflecting on a positive first season in Germany.
