Jimmy Graham won't be catching touchdowns for the New Orleans Saints this season. He's got a bigger goal in mind.
Graham and a team of three others will be planning to become the first American team to row across the Arctic in 2025. Training began last week, which the former NFL tight end documented on social media.
"First day of chasing dreams for an amazing cause," Graham posted with a pair of images and a video of the group in action.
The group will be raising money for the Covenant House in the process, a 24/7 shelter in New Orleans that supports young people ages 16-22 experiencing homelessness, with the Saints organization sharing an inside look at a meeting of the four rowers and the nonprofit earlier this month.
"Heart felt day with the team talking and sharing with the residents at covenant house," Graham said. "On our journey at are dark moments this will def be something we look back on as we fight to push through."
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.
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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.