Jimmy Graham

Background

Jimmy Graham, popularly known as Avatar, was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and had a difficult upbringing. He was placed in a group home at the age of 11 and was severely bullied and beaten by older kids. He was adopted in high school by a church youth counselor, eventually improved his grades, and became a basketball player during his junior and senior years of high school. Graham went on to play basketball for the Miami Hurricanes basketball team between 2005 and 2009. He graduated from the University of Miami in May 2009 with a double major in marketing and management and enrolled himself at the university again to take graduate classes whilst playing a season of college football.

He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 2010 NFL Draft and signed a four-year, $2.445 million rookie contract in July 2010. He finished the season with 31 catches for 356 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. He led all rookie tight ends in all major receiving categories. In 2011, Graham had a phenomenal season. He ended the season with the fourth-highest receiving yards in Saints history with a total of 1,310 yards, led all tight ends in receiving categories, and set the Saints record for most receptions in a single season. He was awarded the Ed Block Courage Award that year. In 2015, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks, with whom he set the Seahawks record for most receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns by a tight end within three seasons.

Graham actively works for the welfare of at-risk youth and military veterans through the Jimmy Graham Foundation. In his free time, he became a licensed commercial pilot and co-chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagle program in 2018. The organization focuses on introducing general aviation to children between the ages of 8 and 17 years.