View source for Daniel Graham

{{Short description|American football player (born 1978)}}
{{other people|Daniel Graham}}
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=August 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Daniel Graham
| image       = Daniel Graham 2010.JPG
| alt         =
| caption     = Graham with the Denver Broncos in 2010
| number      = 82, 89, 86
| position    = [[Tight end]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1978|11|16|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Torrance, California]], U.S.
| death_date  = 
| death_place = 
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 3
| weight_lbs  = 257
| high_school = [[Thomas Jefferson High School (Denver)|Thomas Jefferson]] {{nowrap|([[Denver, Colorado]])}}
| college     = [[Colorado Buffaloes football|Colorado]]
| draftyear   = 2002
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 21
| pastteams   = * [[New England Patriots]] ({{NFL Year|2002}}&ndash;{{NFL Year|2006}})
* [[Denver Broncos]] ({{NFL Year|2007}}&ndash;{{NFL Year|2010}})
* [[Tennessee Titans]] ({{NFL Year|2011}})
* [[New Orleans Saints]] ({{NFL Year|2012}})
| highlights  = * 2× [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XXXVIII|XXXVIII]], [[Super Bowl XXXIX|XXXIX]])
* [[New England Patriots All-2000s Team]]
* [[New England Patriots All-Dynasty Team]]
* [[John Mackey Award]] (2001)
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[2001 College Football All-America Team|2001]])
* First-team [[List of All-Big 12 Conference football teams|All-Big 12]] (2001)
* Second-team All-Big 12 ([[2000 All-Big 12 Conference football team|2000]])
| statlabel1  = [[Reception (American football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue1  = 224
| statlabel2  = [[Receiving yards]]
| statvalue2  = 2,490
| statlabel3  = [[Touchdown|Receiving touchdowns]]
| statvalue3  = 25
| pfr         = GrahDa00 
}}
'''Daniel Lawrence Graham''' (born November 16, 1978) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[tight end]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Colorado Buffaloes football|Colorado Buffaloes]], earning recognition as a consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] in 2001. He was selected by the [[New England Patriots]] in the first round of the [[2002 NFL draft]], and also played professionally for the [[Denver Broncos]], [[Tennessee Titans]] and [[New Orleans Saints]].

==Early life==
Graham was born in [[Torrance, California]]. Growing up in Denver, Colorado, he attended [[Thomas Jefferson High School (Denver)|Thomas Jefferson High School]]. Graham won the Randy Brewer award, which was given to the school's most inspirational player. During his time there, he played the positions of tight end, outside [[linebacker]], long snapper, and placekicker. As a senior, he caught 33 passes for 741 yards (22.45 yards per reception) and six [[touchdown]]s, and recorded twelve [[quarterback sack]]s and 29 total [[Tackle (football move)|tackles]] in just seven games. He also lettered three times in [[basketball]].

At Thomas Jefferson High school and later at the University of Colorado, Graham wore jersey No. 89, the number that former [[New York Giants]] tight end [[Mark Bavaro]] wore during his pro career. As a child Graham idolized Bavaro, who has since followed Graham's career and has come to befriend him in his adult life.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/08/17/these_tight_ends_are_tight/ | work=The Boston Globe | title=These tight ends are tight | date=August 17, 2006 | first1=Mike | last1=Reiss}}</ref>

==College career==
While attending the [[University of Colorado at Boulder|University of Colorado]], Graham played for the [[Colorado Buffaloes football]] team from 1998 to 2001. Nicknamed Grahambo, he was a prolific receiver for the Buffaloes, where he also started two games playing [[fullback (American football)|fullback]] during his freshman season before switching to tight end. After his senior season in 2001, he won the [[John Mackey Award]] as the nation's best tight end, was a first-team All-Big 12 selection, and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.<ref>''2011 NCAA Football Records Book'', [http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2011/Awards.pdf Award Winners], National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 11 (2011).  Retrieved June 24, 2012.</ref> He finished his college career with 106 receptions for 1,543 yards and 11 touchdowns.

*1998: 3 catches for 83 yards.
*1999: 19 catches for 264 yards with 4 TD.
*2000:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/football/season_stats/2000.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=600 |title=Archived copy |access-date=October 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723060322/http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/football/season_stats/2000.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=600 |archive-date=July 23, 2011 }}</ref> 33 catches for 433 yards with 1 TD.
*2001: 51 catches for 753 yards with 6 TD.

==Professional career==

===New England Patriots===
In the first round of the [[2002 NFL draft]], the Patriots selected Graham with the 21st overall choice.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2002/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Early in his career he was known for dropping too many passes and suffering apparent lapses of concentration. He improved greatly in this aspect of his playing and also made himself known as an excellent blocking tight end.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2012/08/16/new-orleans-saints-add-depth-and-experience-with-the-signing-of-tight-end-daniel-graham/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=October 3, 2012 |archive-date=January 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120142602/http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2012/08/16/new-orleans-saints-add-depth-and-experience-with-the-signing-of-tight-end-daniel-graham/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In his rookie season, Graham recorded 15 receptions for 150 yards, and one [[touchdown]]. He added four tackles on special teams. In 2003, he started nine games and recorded 38 catches for 409 yards and four touchdowns. By 2004, Graham was fully integrated into the Patriots' system. He had 30 receptions for 364 yards and seven touchdowns. The Patriots won the [[Super Bowl]] at the end of each of these seasons. Graham was named a Patriots team captain on December 6, 2006.

===Denver Broncos===
Graham was signed by the [[Denver Broncos]] on March 6, 2007.<ref>http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5370262 Bill Williamson, "''Bronco's sign TE Graham''", The Denver Post, March 6, 2007, retrieved October 20, 2009</ref><ref name="Graham signs with Broncos" /> The Broncos awarded Graham a five-year, $30 million contract. The deal included $15 million in guaranteed money that was distributed as a $10 million signing bonus along with a first-year roster bonus of $5 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?id=1095&sport=NFL |title=Daniel Graham |access-date=October 20, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030064929/http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&id=1095 |archive-date=October 30, 2009 }} retrieved on October 20, 2009</ref>

He was voted offensive captain along with quarterback [[Jay Cutler]] for the [[2008 Denver Broncos season|2008]] season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/sep/05/broncos-select-team-captains/|title = Rocky Mountain News}}</ref>

Daniel Graham was featured on the cover of the October 12, 2009 issue of [[Sports Illustrated]] magazine. The cover photo shows Graham cradling the football in his left arm and hurdling an unnamed [[Dallas Cowboys]] player during the October 4, 2009 contest where the Broncos defeated the Cowboys by the score of 17–10.<ref>Sports Illustrated, October 12, 2009, cover, volume 111, issue 13</ref>

On March 2, 2011, the Broncos released Graham.<ref>{{cite web|title=Graham Released|url=http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Graham-Released/0029ab07-f1f7-4307-883e-726aa8a83e20|publisher=denverbroncos.com|access-date=March 31, 2011|archive-date=March 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305034950/http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Graham-Released/0029ab07-f1f7-4307-883e-726aa8a83e20|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Tennessee Titans===
On July 31, 2011, Graham signed a three-year deal with the [[Tennessee Titans]]. Graham scored his only touchdown with the Titans and his final career touchdown on September 25, 2011, with a 4-yard touchdown reception from [[Matt Hasselbeck]] in the fourth quarter of a 17–14 victory over the [[Denver Broncos]]. He was released on June 12, 2012, with two years remaining on an $8.25 million contract. Graham was losing reps to [[Jared Cook]], [[Craig Stevens (American football)|Craig Stevens]] and rookie [[Taylor Thompson (American football)|Taylor Thompson]].

===New Orleans Saints===
On August 11, 2012, Graham signed with the [[New Orleans Saints]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/1095/daniel-graham|title=Daniel Graham - Unsigned Free Agent - news and analysis, statistics, game logs, depth charts, contracts, injuries}}</ref> On November 2, 2012, Graham was released by the [[New Orleans Saints]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Crabtree | first=Curtis | title=Saints re-sign Greg Camarillo, waive Daniel Graham | website=NBC Sports | date=2012-11-02 | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/saints-re-sign-camarillo-waive-graham | access-date=2025-05-11}}</ref> He retired in August 2013.

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Year !! Team !! GP !! Rec !! Tgt !! Yards !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! FD !! Fum !! Lost
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] || [[2002 New England Patriots season|NE]]
| 12 || 15 || — || 150 || 10.0 || 31 || 1 || 7 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] || [[2003 New England Patriots season|NE]]
| 14 || 38 || — || 409 || 10.8 || 38 || 4 || 21 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2004 NFL season|2004]] || [[2004 New England Patriots season|NE]]
| 14 || 30 || — || 364 || 12.1 || 48 || 7 || 20 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] || [[2005 New England Patriots season|NE]]
| 11 || 16 || — || 235 || 14.7 || 45 || 3 || 9 || 1 || 0
|-
! [[2006 NFL season|2006]] || [[2006 New England Patriots season|NE]] 
| 12 || 21 || 34 || 235 || 11.2 || 29 || 2 || 12 || 1 || 1
|-
! [[2007 NFL season|2007]] || [[2007 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 15 || 24 || 33 || 246 || 10.3 || 28 || 2 || 12 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] || [[2008 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 16 || 32 || 50 || 389 || 12.2 || 28 || 4 || 20 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2009 NFL season|2009]] || [[2009 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 16 || 28 || 42 || 289 || 10.3 || 24 || 1 || 14 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] || [[2010 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 16 || 18 || 37 || 148 || 8.2 || 28 || 0 || 5 || 1 || 0
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] || [[2011 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| 16 || 2 || 5 || 25 || 12.5 || 21 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career || 142 || 224 || 201 || 2,490 || 11.1 || 48 || 25 || 122 || 3 || 1
|}<ref name=ESPN>{{cite web|title=Daniel Graham Stats|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/3549/daniel-graham|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=April 14, 2014}}</ref>

==Personal==
His father, [[Tom Graham (American football)|Tom Graham]],<ref>[[Tom Graham (American football)]]</ref> starred at the University of Oregon from 1969 to 1971 where he became the all-time leading tackler in Duck football history and a 2001 inductee into the University of Oregon Hall of Fame. Tom played professionally for the [[Denver Broncos]], the [[Kansas City Chiefs]], the [[San Diego Chargers]], and the [[Buffalo Bills]] during the course of an eight-year career as a [[linebacker]].<ref name="Graham signs with Broncos">{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2007-03-07-free-agent-roundup_N.htm | title=Tight end Graham agrees to deal with Broncos | author=AP | publisher=USAToday.com | date=March 7, 2007 | access-date=March 7, 2007}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/roster/daniel-graham/cf1226e8-1aa5-4b55-84ed-a515aaa7155a/ New Orleans Saints bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830200733/http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/roster/Daniel-Graham/cf1226e8-1aa5-4b55-84ed-a515aaa7155a |date=August 30, 2012 }}

{{John Mackey Award}}
{{2001 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{2002 NFL Draft}}
{{Patriots2002DraftPicks}}
{{PatriotsFirstPick}}
{{Patriots2000s}}
{{PatriotsAllDynasty}}
{{Super Bowl XXXVIII}}
{{Super Bowl XXXIX}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Graham, Daniel}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Torrance, California]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American football tight ends]]
[[Category:Colorado Buffaloes football players]]
[[Category:Denver Broncos players]]
[[Category:New England Patriots players]]
[[Category:Tennessee Titans players]]
[[Category:New Orleans Saints players]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]