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 Graham with the Denver Broncos in 2010 | |||||||||
| No. 82, 89, 86 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Tight end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1978-11-16)November 16, 1978 (age 47) Torrance, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 257 lb (117 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Thomas Jefferson(Denver, Colorado) | ||||||||
| College | Colorado | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 2002: 1st round, 21st overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Daniel Lawrence Graham (born November 16, 1978) is an American former professionalfootball player who was atight end in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theColorado Buffaloes, earning recognition as a consensusAll-American in 2001. He was selected by theNew England Patriots in the first round of the2002 NFL draft, and also played professionally for theDenver Broncos,Tennessee Titans andNew Orleans Saints.
Graham was born inTorrance, California. Growing up in Denver, Colorado, he attendedThomas Jefferson High School. Graham won the Randy Brewer award, which was given to the school's most inspirational player. During his time there, he played the positions of tight end, outsidelinebacker, long snapper, and placekicker. As a senior, he caught 33 passes for 741 yards (22.45 yards per reception) and sixtouchdowns, and recorded twelvequarterback sacks and 29 totaltackles in just seven games. He also lettered three times inbasketball.
At Thomas Jefferson High school and later at the University of Colorado, Graham wore jersey No. 89, the number that formerNew York Giants tight endMark Bavaro wore during his pro career. As a child Graham idolized Bavaro, who has since followed Graham's career and has come to befriend him in his adult life.[1]
While attending theUniversity of Colorado, Graham played for theColorado Buffaloes football team from 1998 to 2001. Nicknamed Grahambo, he was a prolific receiver for the Buffaloes, where he also started two games playingfullback during his freshman season before switching to tight end. After his senior season in 2001, he won theJohn Mackey Award as the nation's best tight end, was a first-team All-Big 12 selection, and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.[2] He finished his college career with 106 receptions for 1,543 yards and 11 touchdowns.
In the first round of the2002 NFL draft, the Patriots selected Graham with the 21st overall choice.[4] Early in his career he was known for dropping too many passes and suffering apparent lapses of concentration. He improved greatly in this aspect of his playing and also made himself known as an excellent blocking tight end.[5] In his rookie season, Graham recorded 15 receptions for 150 yards, and onetouchdown. He added four tackles on special teams. In 2003, he started nine games and recorded 38 catches for 409 yards and four touchdowns. By 2004, Graham was fully integrated into the Patriots' system. He had 30 receptions for 364 yards and seven touchdowns. The Patriots won theSuper Bowl at the end of each of these seasons. Graham was named a Patriots team captain on December 6, 2006.
Graham was signed by theDenver Broncos on March 6, 2007.[6][7] The Broncos awarded Graham a five-year, $30 million contract. The deal included $15 million in guaranteed money that was distributed as a $10 million signing bonus along with a first-year roster bonus of $5 million.[8]
He was voted offensive captain along with quarterbackJay Cutler for the2008 season.[9]
Daniel Graham was featured on the cover of the October 12, 2009 issue ofSports Illustrated magazine. The cover photo shows Graham cradling the football in his left arm and hurdling an unnamedDallas Cowboys player during the October 4, 2009 contest where the Broncos defeated the Cowboys by the score of 17–10.[10]
On March 2, 2011, the Broncos released Graham.[11]
On July 31, 2011, Graham signed a three-year deal with theTennessee Titans. Graham scored his only touchdown with the Titans and his final career touchdown on September 25, 2011, with a 4-yard touchdown reception fromMatt Hasselbeck in the fourth quarter of a 17–14 victory over theDenver Broncos. He was released on June 12, 2012, with two years remaining on an $8.25 million contract. Graham was losing reps toJared Cook,Craig Stevens and rookieTaylor Thompson.
On August 11, 2012, Graham signed with theNew Orleans Saints.[12] On November 2, 2012, Graham was released by theNew Orleans Saints.[13] He retired in August 2013.
| Year | Team | GP | Rec | Tgt | Yards | Avg | Lng | TD | FD | Fum | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | NE | 12 | 15 | — | 150 | 10.0 | 31 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | NE | 14 | 38 | — | 409 | 10.8 | 38 | 4 | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | NE | 14 | 30 | — | 364 | 12.1 | 48 | 7 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | NE | 11 | 16 | — | 235 | 14.7 | 45 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 | NE | 12 | 21 | 34 | 235 | 11.2 | 29 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 | DEN | 15 | 24 | 33 | 246 | 10.3 | 28 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | DEN | 16 | 32 | 50 | 389 | 12.2 | 28 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | DEN | 16 | 28 | 42 | 289 | 10.3 | 24 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | DEN | 16 | 18 | 37 | 148 | 8.2 | 28 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | TEN | 16 | 2 | 5 | 25 | 12.5 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 142 | 224 | 201 | 2,490 | 11.1 | 48 | 25 | 122 | 3 | 1 | |
His father,Tom Graham,[15] starred at the University of Oregon from 1969 to 1971 where he became the all-time leading tackler in Duck football history and a 2001 inductee into the University of Oregon Hall of Fame. Tom played professionally for theDenver Broncos, theKansas City Chiefs, theSan Diego Chargers, and theBuffalo Bills during the course of an eight-year career as alinebacker.[7]
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