Jimmy Graham
TE #80 — New Orleans Saints
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About Jimmy Graham
Jimmy Graham played basketball at the University of Miami. You know this because every broadcaster who has ever called a Saints game has told you this, usually within the first three minutes. It became the single most unavoidable factoid in NFL history, repeated so often that it looped past annoying into a full-blown meme. Graham himself probably hears "did you know he played basketball?" in his sleep. The thing is, it actually mattered. His basketball background gave him a high-pointing ability that made him genuinely unfair at the catch point. At 6'7" with a 39-inch vertical, he just went up and took the ball away from defensive backs who had no answer for the geometry of the situation.
From 2011 to 2014, Graham was arguably the most dominant tight end in football. Drew Brees would throw it up in the red zone and Graham would go get it like he was grabbing a rebound. He had 51 touchdowns in his first five seasons, a stretch that had people seriously debating whether he was a tight end or a wide receiver. (The Saints even tried to get him classified as a receiver for franchise tag purposes. They lost.) He dunked on the goalpost after touchdowns until the NFL banned it. They literally changed a rule because Jimmy Graham was having too much fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'Jimmy Graham played basketball' such a famous meme?
Because TV broadcasters mentioned his basketball background at Miami so frequently that it became a running joke across the entire NFL fanbase. It didn't matter if it was his eighth season or a random Week 14 game. Someone in the booth was going to tell you he played basketball. The repetition reached a point where fans started a drinking game around it. The phrase became shorthand for any obvious, over-repeated announcer factoid.
What made Jimmy Graham so dominant with the Saints?
His combination of size, athleticism, and basketball instincts made him almost impossible to cover in the red zone. At 6'7" with elite leaping ability, he could high-point passes over smaller defensive backs the same way a power forward grabs boards over guards. Drew Brees force-fed him targets near the end zone, and Graham converted at a rate that made him the most dangerous red zone weapon in the league for several seasons. He scored 51 touchdowns in his first five years, which was absurd for a tight end.
Last updated: April 2026