Home / Sports / Kelce Honors Tight End Pioneer Graham
Kelce Honors Tight End Pioneer Graham
12 Feb
Summary
- Graham revolutionized the tight end position with exceptional stats.
- A 2014 dispute questioned his receiving rates as TE or WR.
- Travis Kelce acknowledges Graham's significant game-changing influence.
Jimmy Graham, a standout tight end for the New Orleans Saints, is increasingly recognized for his transformative influence on the position. During his early seasons in New Orleans, Graham posted remarkable statistics, including 1,310 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in just his second year. He led the league with 16 touchdown receptions in 2013, accumulating over 889 yards and nine touchdowns annually between 2011 and 2014.
Graham's exceptional play even led to a notable arbitration battle in 2014 regarding whether he should be franchise-tagged as a wide receiver or tight end. His status as a superstar and trailblazer for the position, however, has sometimes been overlooked in historical NFL discussions.
Recently, fellow tight end Travis Kelce paid tribute to Graham on the "New Heights" podcast, emphasizing that Graham's game-changing contributions to the tight end role deserve more widespread acknowledgment. After his impactful tenure with the Saints, Graham played for the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears before returning to New Orleans for his final NFL season in 2023.
