Daniel Graham facts for kids
Graham while with Denver
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| No. 82, 86, 89 | |||||||
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| Position: | Tight end | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | November 16, 1978 Torrance, California, U.S. |
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| 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 | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Daniel Lawrence Graham (born November 16, 1978) is a former American football player. He played as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). Daniel was a top player in college football for the Colorado Buffaloes. He was even named an All-American in 2001. 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.
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Early Life and High School Football
Daniel Graham was born in Torrance, California. He grew up in Denver, Colorado. Daniel went to Thomas Jefferson High School. There, he won the Randy Brewer award. This award was given to the school's most inspiring player.
During high school, Daniel played many positions. He played tight end, outside linebacker, long snapper, and placekicker. In his senior year, he caught 33 passes for 741 yards. He also scored six touchdowns. On defense, he had 12 quarterback sacks and 29 tackles. He also played basketball for three years.
Daniel wore jersey number 89 in high school and college. This was the number worn by Mark Bavaro, a famous tight end for the New York Giants. Daniel looked up to Bavaro as a kid. Later, they became friends.
College Football Career
Daniel Graham played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes football team. He played from 1998 to 2001 at the University of Colorado. His nickname was "Grahambo."
He was a very good receiver for the Buffaloes. In his first year, he even started two games as a fullback. Then, he switched to playing tight end. After his senior year in 2001, he won the John Mackey Award. This award goes to the best tight end in the country. He was also chosen for the first-team All-Big 12. Plus, he was named a first-team All-American.
Daniel finished his college career with 106 catches. He gained 1,543 yards and scored 11 touchdowns.
Professional Football Career
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots chose Daniel Graham in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft. He was the 21st player picked overall. When he first started, he sometimes dropped passes. But he worked hard and got much better. He also became known as an excellent blocking tight end.
In his first year, 2002, Daniel had 15 catches for 150 yards. He also scored one touchdown. In 2003, he started nine games. He caught 38 passes for 409 yards and four touchdowns. By 2004, Daniel was a key player for the Patriots. 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 team captain in 2006.
Denver Broncos
On March 6, 2007, Daniel Graham signed with the Denver Broncos. He signed a five-year contract worth $30 million. He was voted offensive captain for the 2008 season. He shared this role with quarterback Jay Cutler.
Daniel Graham was on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. This was on October 12, 2009. The picture showed him jumping over a Dallas Cowboys player. This happened during a game where the Broncos beat the Cowboys 17–10. The Broncos released Daniel on March 2, 2011.
Tennessee Titans
On July 31, 2011, Daniel signed a three-year deal with the Tennessee Titans. He scored his only touchdown with the Titans on September 25, 2011. This was his last career touchdown. It was a 4-yard catch from Matt Hasselbeck. The Titans won that game against the Denver Broncos 17–14. He was released by the Titans on June 12, 2012.
New Orleans Saints
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.
Family Life
Daniel's father is Tom Graham. Tom was a football star at the University of Oregon from 1969 to 1971. He became the player with the most tackles in Oregon's history. He was also put into the University of Oregon Hall of Fame in 2001. Tom played professionally as a linebacker for eight years. He played for the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, and Buffalo Bills.
