Former New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham will be honored on Sunday as the team's "Legend of the Game" prior to Sunday's contest against the Atlanta Falcons at the Caesars Superdome.
Graham, a cornerstone of the Saints offense for six seasons (2010-14, 2024), was originally selected by the Black and Gold in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft (95th overall) out of the University of Miami (Fla.), where he played a graduate campaign in football after spending four seasons on the Hurricanes basketball team. In his six seasons with the Black and Gold, the Goldsboro, N.C. native played in 91 regular season games, posting 392 receptions for 4,791 yards and 55 touchdowns, adding 210 receiving yards and three more touchdowns in the postseason. Graham was a three-time Pro Bowl selection (2011, 2013-14) and two-time Associated Press All-Pro (2011 and 2013).
Graham also played for the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears (2015-21), a period when was selected to two additional Pro Bowls (2016-17). Over his 13-year career, Graham totaled 719 receptions for 8,545 yards (11.9 avg.) with 89 touchdown grabs. The most productive tight end in franchise history and among the best to ever play the position, Graham ranks fourth in NFL record books in receiving touchdowns among tight ends, while his receptions and receiving yardage totals rank eighth.
As a Saint, Graham's impact transition from a basketball background to one of quarterback Drew Brees' most trusted targets started to take place as a rookie in 2010, when he made four touchdowns catches in the team's last three games. In 2011, Graham enjoyed a breakout campaign, racking up a franchise record at the time 99 receptions for 1,310 yards (13.2 avg.) with 11 touchdowns on the way to his first Pro Bowl and AP All-Pro selections. In 2013, Graham produced his career-best season, when in 16 games, he hauled in 86 grabs for 1,215 yards (14.1 avg.) and a career-high/league-leading 16 receiving touchdowns on his way to another Pro Bowl nod and first-team All-Pro selection. From 2011-14, Graham led all tight ends in receptions (355), receiving yards (4,396) and touchdown grabs (46).
Off the field, Graham was a strong presence for the Saints as well, through his work in New Orleans with the team's charitable initiatives and financial and in-person support for military causes, Boys Town Louisiana and Covenant House New Orleans. In 2011, he was selected by his Saints teammates as the club winner of the Ed Block Courage Award, annually presented to one player who best exemplifies a commitment to sportsmanship and courage and serves as an inspiration in the locker room, spending parts of his childhood in foster care and group home situations.
Following the final season of his playing career in 2023 as a member of the Saints, Graham continued to push himself mentally and physically for a good cause, as he set his sights on the "Arctic Challenge." This past summer, after over a year of preparation, Graham took part in a four-person team embarking on a rowing expedition spanning 584 nautical miles across the Arctic Ocean in a little over ten days. They rowed nonstop from Norway to Svalbard, smashing the previous record of a team of four – 15 days, five hours and 32 minutes, while also raising money for two charities in the New Orleans area, Covenant House and Laureus Sport for Good USA, which provides grants to create sports opportunities for disadvantaged youth. The team set several first with its expedition: It was the first mixed-gender team of four to row across the Arctic Ocean and the first all-American team to row across a polar ocean. Graham became the first African-American to row a polar ocean, while one of his teammates, Hannah Huppi, was the first American woman to row a polar ocean.
Graham will be available to the media in the press conference room at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CT.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
Jimmy Graham and his Arctic Challenge teammates visited the Covenant House New Orleans on Friday, June 7, 2024. The Artic Challenge will help raise funds for the Covenant House and other non-profit organizations. The members of the Challenge spoke to the residents about their story and their mission of rowing across the Artic Ocean.
