Jimmy Graham had what appears to be one final tour with the Saints in the 2023 season, and he's got even bigger plans ahead ... and they'll be cold.
The Saints legend is planning to be a member of a four-person team undertaking The Arctic Challenge, a 1,000 kilometer rowing challenge across the "unforgiving Arctic Ocean," as it's described on the event's website.
Graham will serve as the lead navigator for the group and will be joined by NAVY Seal Andrew Tropp serving as captain, former member of Team USA rowing and New Orleans native Hannah Huppi, and former Team USA and Team Switzerland rower John Huppi. The challenge has partnered with three charities to support in Covenant House, the Jimmy Graham Foundation and Laureus Sport for Good USA.
Graham initially shared his plans to row across the arctic on a podcast with Saints defensive end Cam Jordan earlier this offseason, and it joins a long list of unique endeavors undertaken by the NFL star. He also told Jordan that he'd never rowed before, not even in a standard rowboat, so learning the skills involved will be one of the bigger challenges.
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“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 get to work.”
The group will have 18 months to prep before embarking in Norway on a 9-meter vessel. The team will row nonstop in 2-hour, alternating shifts en route to their destination. The journey is expected to take between 10-20 days. Should they reach their destination the group will become the first-ever mixed gendered team to complete the journey, and also the first American team to do so. They'll also be gunning to set the new Guinness World Record, with the current time to beat set at 15 days, 5 hours and 32 minutes.
Graham also has ambitions to sail across the world, is licensed to pilot several types of aircraft and has recently become enamored with endurance cycling, something he credited with helping him get back into the shape and health necessary for one more go-around in the NFL.
Graham's 2023 season was limited, but nonetheless exciting. The 37-year-old was active for 13 games, catching just 6 passes total, but four of them going for touchdowns. Graham has yet to officially retire from the NFL, but he posted what appeared to be a farewell message on social media following the end of the season.
For more information on The Arctic Challenge, click here.