Former NFL TE Jimmy Graham, rowing crew complete 584-mile Arctic Challenge in 10 days
The 38-year-old's latest pursuit saw him train for the past 18 months to take part in the Arctic Challenge, a journey across the Arctic Ocean with three other team members in hopes of setting a Guinness World Record.
Advertisement
The crew of Graham, Andrew Tropp, and Hannah and John Huppi — 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, broke the previous record held by a team of four of 15 days, 5 hours and 32 minutes, which was set in 2023.
The conditions, as you could imagine, were rough with the team forced to drop anchor twice during their journey. Not to mention the cold, rain and wind causing issues with recharging their electronics.
The team began their trek on July 4 from Tromsø, Norway and arrived in Longyearbyen, Svalbard on July 14. According to the Arctic Challenge, the average travel time south to north is about 16.5 days.
Advertisement
This journey also wasn't without purpose. The crew set a goal of raising $1 million — one dollar for every meter across the Arctic Ocean — for Covenant House New Orleans and Laureus Sport for Good New Orleans.
This kind of adventure isn't unusual for Graham, who served a lead navigator during the trip. He owns 10 different aviation licenses and is an avid cyclist.
While football might be in the past, Graham has been planning his future, as he told Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan on his podcast in January 2024.
"It just really gives me something to look forward to and something that athletically I can push myself in a new direction," Graham said. "And I don't have to take hits anymore. I can just sit there and just get to work."
A five-time Pro Bowler and First-team All-Pro in 2013, Graham recorded two 1,000-plus yard receiving seasons and led the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2013 with 16.
Advertisement
After sitting out the 2022 season, Graham returned to New Orleans on a one-year deal in 2023, his last in the NFL. He played in 13 games and scored four times.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
These 2 players could shape the Commanders' 2025 season
We're officially 50 days from the start of the 2025 NFL season, less than two months away. For the third year in a row, CBS Sports senior writer Zachary Pereles created a list of 50 under-the-radar players who could shape the 2025 NFL season. Now, "under the radar" is subjective, so this year, Pereles created some boundaries: Not an All-Pro or Pro Bowler in 2024 or 2023 (we have one exception here, with good reason) Not drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft Not in my 100 most important players that published 100 days before the season began He also included at least one player from each team, but some teams obviously had multiple players to get to 50. The Washington Commanders had two players land on this list. First: Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders: From Weeks 1-8, Robinson was one of the league's best runners on a success rate and a yards after contact basis. Then he missed Weeks 9 and 10 with a hamstring injury and was among the NFL's least efficient runners thereafter. A Week 12 ankle injury didn't help, either. The change was clear: He avoided 18.8% of tackles from Weeks 1-9. That fell to 11.6% in Weeks 11-18. Washington, once thought of as a landing spot for a top running back in the draft, didn't select one until the seventh round. Robinson will lead the backfield once again. Robinson is in the final year of his rookie contract and has missed at least two games in each season he's played. That said, the Commanders' offensive line will be improved this year, and if he can stay healthy, Robinson can get the job done. But if he continues how he has the last couple of years, he will likely find himself as RB2, whether he's with the Commanders or not. The Commanders' second player on the list might surprise you. Trey Amos (CB), Commanders: Washington found a gem in last year's second-round cornerback, Mike Sainristil, and hopes this year's version, Amos, is able to make a similar immediate impact. At 6-foot-1 he has the size to play outside, which would allow Washington to slide Sainristil inside, and he tested well at the combine. Rookie cornerbacks can experience a trial by fire, but if Amos holds up, it's a huge improvement for a defense that needs to improve. Amos has all kinds of upside, and Joe Whitt comes from a secondary background. Whitt and Dan Quinn will have the defensive side of the ball in much better shape in 2025 than it was in 2024, when Quinn was much more focused on the offense. Both Robinson and Amos have tremendous upside, and both have the potential to impact the Commanders and shape their season, thereby helping to shape the overall landscape of the NFL. If things pan out the way they look on paper, the Commanders are going to have a very successful 2025 season. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: 2 Commanders named players who could shape 2025 season
USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 14 — Walter Thurmond III
Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century. Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They've been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They've seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft. It's safe to say that when looking at the nation's best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That's a different question entirely. To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we're going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way. But who is the best of the best? Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success. Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks. If you want to catch up, let's take a look at how we've gotten to where we're at in the rankings: Today, let's continue with No. 15 — Walter Thurmond III Player Overview Walter Thurmond III's time with Oregon was very similar to Jairus Byrd, his teammate and fellow member of the D-Boyz. While he did not have a star ranking, he shined in high school as a two-sport star who was considered one of the fastest players in the state of California. Thurmond would immediately show the college world why they were foolish to pass over him, becoming a star with the Ducks. Walter Thurmond III Career Stats 41 Games — 253 tackles, 13 TFL, 12 INT, 3 TD Single Best Season 13 Games — 103 tackles, 8 TFL, 5 INT, 2 TD The star defensive back was productive during his entire college career, but his best work was done in his sophomore season. This is where the comparisons to Byrd begin, as Thurmond demonstrated excellent versatility in 2007, showcasing his impact in the tackling department, creating turnovers, and even scoring points himself. Historical Stats and Records Walter Thurmond III NFL Draft Thurmond's final two seasons in Eugene were injury-riddled, which tanked his draft stock considerably, falling to the fourth round where the Seattle Seahawks selected him with the 111th overall pick. Walter Thurmond III NFL Success Sadly, the success he had with the Ducks did not translate to the NFL as Thurmond retired after just six seasons. The one thing that did follow him to the next level was the injury bug, which is a major contributor as to why his professional career sputtered. Thurmond recorded just 160 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, and 3 sacks. But, the vast majority of those numbers were recorded in his final season, so his career ended with bubbling optimism. Walter Thurmond III's Lasting Legacy Walter Thurmond III is a name that could one day be lost in the annals of NFL history, but that can never nullify the impact he had at Oregon. He arrived on the scene at a time when a ton of other talented defenders peppered the Ducks roster and helped foster the culture that is in place today. One of the members of the legendary D-Boyz, Thurmond signifies a period of supremacy and defensive dominance that the people of Oregon will always carry with them. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
Wisconsin legend J.J. Watt reacts to brother T.J.'s record contract extension
Wisconsin great T.J. Watt became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history on Thursday. The standout edge rusher signed a three-year, $123 million contract extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including a whopping $108 million fully guaranteed at signing. The contract extends his current deal, which was set to expire after the 2025 season. Its $41 million average annual value narrowly edges the contracts of Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase ($40.25 million) and Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett ($40 million). The former Badger star has become one of the best pass-rushers of this generation. He has 108 sacks, 126 tackles for loss and 225 quarterback hits in eight full years in the league. His best outputs include a 22.5-sack Defensive Player of the Year campaign in 2021 and a 19-sack 2023 season. While T.J. Watt prepares for his ninth NFL season and works to live up to his record deal, his brother J.J. took to social media to react to the news. According to Spotrac, J.J. Watt made $129,748,000 over his 12-year NFL career. T.J.'s three-year extension alone leaps over that number. The two brothers and former Wisconsin stars boast similarly terrific careers. J.J. made five All-Pro first teams and won three Defensive Player of the Year Awards. T.J., in four fewer seasons, has made four All-Pro first teams and won one DPOY Award. The duo is near the top of the list of the best brother duos in NFL history. If T.J. Watt keeps up his current pace, a spot in Canton, Ohio, will inevitably follow. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
