The Hollywood-worthy tale of Jimmy Graham — college basketball player turned star NFL tight end — always felt tied to New Orleans.
On Sunday, Graham cemented that bond as he officially announced his NFL retirement — as a Saint, in the Caesars Superdome, ahead of the team's game against NFC South rival Atlanta.
"It's unbelievable to be back here and to be able to retire as a Saint," said Graham, who finished his six-year Saints career with 392 catches for 4,791 yards and 55 touchdowns. In 13 overall seasons, Graham had 719 catches for 8,545 and 89 touchdowns in stints with the Saints, Seahawks, Packers and Bears.
"I always wish that I was able to bring a ring (to New Orleans), like (quarterback) Drew (Brees) did," he said. "Because when you win here, it's special. Because this city — economically, emotionally — they rise to a new level."
Graham didn't help deliver a Super Bowl title, but he served up electrifying performances that made him the NFL's best tight end during a four-year period with the Saints (2011-14) as he totaled 355 catches (89 per year) for 4,396 yards (1,099 per year) and 46 touchdowns (11.5 per year) in 63 games.
And the former third-round pick (No. 95 overall) in 2010 helped redefine the position.
"When you sign a player, or you draft a player, we have these expectations," said Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis, who attended Graham's announcement along with Saints owner Gayle Benson, team president Dennis Lauscha and Brees.
"We have a vision," Loomis said. "And when you draft a basketball player from the University of Miami — who played one year of college football, 17 catches in 13 games, I don't even know if he started a game — you have expectations still. But when in the second year of his NFL career he is the best tight end in all of football, that's just astounding.
"When that happens, GMs, coaches and quarterbacks all want to get a little piece of that credit. But if you really understand Jimmy and understand his story, his life, you would know that from the age of 10, he has exceeded expectations. For him to get to where he was in only the second year of his career, is really a credit that solely belongs to Jimmy.
"I am so grateful that he chose to finish his career with the New Orleans Saints. I'm grateful because he was arguably one of, if not the, most popular players in the time he was here. And for him to have the chance to reconnect to his fans, to our fans, to the organization, was really, really special."
Graham was traded to Seattle in 2015, but returned to New Orleans to play his final season in 2023.
"That year to me was very important, because I became a man in this city," he said. "I grew in this city. I just wanted to make sure that I came back and showed my appreciation. I showed everyone in this organization what this place means to me. It's a place that forever will be my home — I consider it home. And every time I fly into Lakefront (Airport), that's the way I look at it."
Graham said he specifically chose the Saints' home game against Atlanta, the franchise he famously caused an in-game delay against due to pulling the crossbar askew after dunking over it following a 44-yard touchdown catch in 2013, to make his announcement.
"Most of the memories that I remember (against the Falcons) are just winning," he said, smiling. "Obviously, I picked this game for a reason. Atlanta brought the best out of us because of that rivalry. When you play a team that, every game goes to the last possession, you know it's always going to show you who you are."
Graham now is a retired, all-time great Saint.
"You were a Saint, you are a Saint, you'll always be a New Orleans Saint and I'm really excited that you're here as a legend of the Saints forever," Loomis said.
