Jimmy Graham Likely To Retire, Era Of Basketball-Playing Tight Ends Thankfully Concludes
Like Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates before him, Jimmy Graham seems poised to retire as an NFL tight end. Graham’s likely retirement won’t just leave a void at the end of the New Orleans Saints’ line of scrimmage, it will also leave broadcast booths without the crutch of referencing Graham’s University of Miami hoops career.
Every. Single. Game.
On Wednesday, Graham confirmed he’s not yet retired, but seemed to suggest he will hang up the cleats soon, telling ESPN: "I'm gonna reach out to the Saints and figure out what's best, and then make the decision on when it's best for me to retire."
If and when he does, the Jim Nantz’s, Joe Buck’s and Tony Romo’s of the world will have to lay to rest the decades-old habit of reminding broadcast viewers that the superstar tight end on the field had a past life as a hooper. It started with Tony Gonzalez, who then passed the torch to Antonio Gates, followed by Graham.
The college basketball player-turned NFL tight end talking point during NFL broadcasts has been uttered nearly as often as the words "roughing the passer" in the 2010s.
New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham scores a touchdown reception against Baltimore in the 2014 season in his first time with the Saints. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Julius Peppers did his best to break up the broadcast monotony, moving from North Carolina college football and basketball player to defensive end, thankfully choosing the wrong side of the ball for his pro career.
Look, we get it. These guys used to put the ball through the basket and Ryan Fitzpatrick went to Harvard.
Rinse. Repeat.
But alas, (probably) no more.
Jimmy Graham Spent Nearly Half Of His NFL Career In New Orleans
"I just want to make sure when I retire, it's as a Saint," Graham told ESPN. "And it's when they want me to. I'll just make sure I give them a call and see exactly when they want me to retire and then I'll end up doing it."
Graham is unquestionably one of the most gifted tight ends of the NFL’s modern era. But his retirement will serve as a gift to viewers who will miss the acrobatic touchdown catches, but not the tiresome callbacks of a hoops career.
Assuming Graham, 37, officially walks away this offseason, he’ll leave with 89 touchdowns, two All-Pro selections, five Pro Bowls and countless Miami Hurricanes college basketball references over his 13-season playing career.
Ranking in the top 20 all-time for receiving touchdowns and having amassed more than 8,500 career yards, some would say Jimmy Graham is a surefire Hall of Famer.
Maybe. But it’s no slam dunk.
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