logo
With a world speed record in sight, Jimmy Graham checks in from his Arctic Ocean adventure

With a world speed record in sight, Jimmy Graham checks in from his Arctic Ocean adventure

USA Today11-07-2025
'It's been raining nonstop for 24 hours. No sun for 72'
Jimmy Graham and his rowing crew are a week into their round-the-clock paddle across the Arctic Ocean, and the former New Orleans Saints star tight end took a moment to share a message with fans following from home on Friday.
"It's been raining nonstop for 24 hours. No sun for 72," Graham said in a statement through the Saints. "We're officially in battery conservation mode. Everything's wet. Everything's cold. But the mission? Still fully charged. We are so thankful for everyone's continued support through this journey. Let's go!"
While Graham's aim is to set a new speed record for rowing this route across the Arctic Ocean, his ultimate goal is to raise $1 million in funds for a couple of Louisiana-based charities in the Covenant House and Laureus Sport for Good New Orleans. You can read more about those charitable efforts and Graham's partnership with the Million Meters Club.
Strong winds pushed Graham's boat west of the planned course earlier in the trek, but they're still making good time and could reach their destination in just a few days. The crew spent a year and a half training for this adventure and hoped to make the trip in 10 days, but packed enough supplies for twice that if need be. The standing record for the 1,000-mile paddle is 15 days and five hours, and they just might beat that.
Graham, 38, last caught passes for the Saints in 2023 after recovering from a cycling accident in Miami (he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle and joked that he "did more damage to the car"), where he played college football and basketball for the Hurricanes. His exploits as a pilot are famous, but Graham's wanderlust has taken him to sea, too. Good luck to him and his team on the final leg of this journey.
Fans can watch Graham's progress with a live tracking map on the Arctic Challenge's website, where they can also donate to support the charities he's advocating for. Graham and his team have been at sea since Friday, July 4 and have a good shot at going the distance. We'll be rooting for them.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

42 days till the Arizona Cardinals' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 42?
42 days till the Arizona Cardinals' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 42?

USA Today

time17 hours ago

  • USA Today

42 days till the Arizona Cardinals' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 42?

With 42 days till the Cardinals open the season against the Saints, we look at the players who have worn No. 42. We are counting down to the start of the 2025 regular season for the Arizona Cardinals, and we are exactly six weeks away. They will open the season on the road against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 7. That is 42 days away. As we count down the remaining days of the offseason, let's look at who has worn that number uniform over the years for the Cardinals. Who has worn No. 42? Cardinals players to wear No. 42 Second-year safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson has No. 42 for the second straight year. Lassiter was the best the Cardinals every had to wear No. 42. He was great. Goldberg would later wear No. 99 and that is retired for him. Woodson was the most accomplished player of the group, but he didn't have them with the Cardinals. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro for the San Francisco 49ers before he came to the Cardinals. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

WATCH: Rookie linebacker Danny Stutsman picks off Saints QB Spencer Rattler
WATCH: Rookie linebacker Danny Stutsman picks off Saints QB Spencer Rattler

USA Today

time17 hours ago

  • USA Today

WATCH: Rookie linebacker Danny Stutsman picks off Saints QB Spencer Rattler

Stutsman picks off Rattler Here's another throw at New Orleans Saints training camp that Spencer Rattler would like back. Both of the Saints' rookie fourth-round draft picks have now intercepted him in practice, with linebacker Danny Stutsman picking off Rattler in the end zone just days after cornerback Quincy Riley snatched an errant pass away in a similar situation. Stutsman and Rattler were college teammates at Oklahoma back in 2021. Now, we shouldn't blow this out of proportion. Training camp is when you want guys taking risks and testing the limits of what they can get away with against NFL defenders. But this was a poor decision no matter what time of year it is. See it for yourself right here. Rattler was leading the first-string offense in 7-on-9 drills against the first-team defense; Stutsman was bumped up the depth chart with Demario Davis absent from practice. The second-year QB tried a throw to wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. running a crossing route through the middle of the end zone, but he was covered. Stutsman read the play as it developed and dropped back to leap the route. Even if the rookie hadn't been there, free safety Justin Reid was closing on Wilson fast, and it would've been a contested-catch situation at best. Again, this was one play. Jake Haener was intercepted at this same practice session, too, when he gambled on a deep shot to wide receiver Chris Tyree (this time, safety Julian Blackmon picked him off). But one of the big concerns with Rattler's rookie-year game tape was his decision making. He threw five interceptions and, according to Pro Football Focus charting, had 14 turnover-worthy plays on his grading sheet. He needs to show better judgment if he's going to fend off Haener and Tyler Shough in this summer's training camp competition. Hopefully this ends up being a learning moment for him.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store