Daniel Graham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Daniel Graham

Graham with the Denver Broncos in 2010
No. 82, 89, 86
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Born:	(1978-11-16) November 16, 1978 (age 46) Torrance, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	257 lb (117 kg)
Career information
High school:	Thomas Jefferson (Denver, Colorado)
College:	Colorado
NFL Draft:	2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21
Career history
New England Patriots (2002–2006) Denver Broncos (2007–2010) Tennessee Titans (2011) New Orleans Saints (2012)
Career highlights and awards
2× Super Bowl champion (XXXVIII, XXXIX) New England Patriots All-2000s Team New England Patriots All-Dynasty Team John Mackey Award (2001) Consensus All-American (2001) First-team All-Big 12 (2001) Second-team All-Big 12 (2000)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 224 Receiving yards: 2,490 Receiving touchdowns: 25
Player stats at PFR

Daniel Lawrence Graham, born on November 16, 1978, is a former American football player. He used to play as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the pros, he played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes. In 2001, he was recognized as one of the best college players in the country. The New England Patriots picked him in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft. He also played for the Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans, and New Orleans Saints.

Early Life and High School Football

Daniel Graham was born in Torrance, California. He grew up in Denver, Colorado, and went to Thomas Jefferson High School. While there, he won the Randy Brewer award for being the school's most inspiring player.

Playing Multiple Positions

In high school, Daniel was a versatile player. He played as a tight end, an outside linebacker, a long snapper, and even a placekicker. In his senior year, he caught 33 passes for 741 yards and scored six touchdowns. He also made 12 quarterback sacks and 29 tackles in just seven games. Daniel also played basketball and earned three varsity letters.

Idolizing a Football Star

Daniel wore jersey number 89 in high school and college. This was the same number worn by Mark Bavaro, a famous tight end for the New York Giants. Daniel looked up to Bavaro when he was a kid. Later in life, Bavaro even became a friend to Daniel.

College Football Career

Daniel Graham played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes at the University of Colorado. He played from 1998 to 2001. His teammates sometimes called him "Grahambo."

Becoming a Top Tight End

Daniel was a great receiver for the Buffaloes. In his first year, he even started two games as a fullback before switching to tight end. After his senior season in 2001, he won the John Mackey Award. This award goes to the best tight end in the nation. He was also chosen as a first-team All-Big 12 player and a consensus first-team All-American. He finished his college career with 106 catches for 1,543 yards and 11 touchdowns.

• 1998: 3 catches for 83 yards.
• 1999: 19 catches for 264 yards with 4 touchdowns.
• 2000: 33 catches for 433 yards with 1 touchdown.
• 2001: 51 catches for 753 yards with 6 touchdowns.

Professional Football Career

New England Patriots (2002–2006)

The New England Patriots picked Daniel Graham in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft. He was the 21st player chosen overall. When he first started, he sometimes dropped passes. But he worked hard and got much better at catching the ball. He also became known as an excellent blocking tight end.

In his first year (2002), Daniel had 15 catches for 150 yards and one touchdown. He also made four tackles on special teams. In 2003, he started nine games and had 38 catches for 409 yards and four touchdowns. By 2004, Daniel was a key part of the Patriots' team. He had 30 catches for 364 yards and seven touchdowns. The Patriots won the Super Bowl in both 2003 and 2004. Daniel was named a Patriots team captain in December 2006.

Denver Broncos (2007–2010)

Daniel Graham joined the Denver Broncos on March 6, 2007. He was voted offensive captain for the 2008 season, along with quarterback Jay Cutler.

Daniel was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine on October 12, 2009. The picture showed him jumping over a Dallas Cowboys player during a game where the Broncos won 17–10. The Broncos released Daniel on March 2, 2011.

Tennessee Titans (2011)

On July 31, 2011, Daniel signed with the Tennessee Titans. He scored his only touchdown with the Titans, which was also his final career touchdown, on September 25, 2011. It was a 4-yard catch from Matt Hasselbeck in a 17–14 win against the Denver Broncos. The Titans released him on June 12, 2012.

New Orleans Saints (2012)

Daniel Graham signed with the New Orleans Saints on August 11, 2012. He was released by the Saints on November 2, 2012. Daniel officially retired from football in August 2013.

NFL Career Statistics

Family Life

Daniel's father, Tom Graham, was also a talented football player. He played for the University of Oregon from 1969 to 1971. Tom became the all-time leading tackler in Oregon Ducks football history. In 2001, he was inducted into the University of Oregon Hall of Fame. Tom also played professionally as a linebacker for eight years. He played for the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, and Buffalo Bills.