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New Orleans Saints legend Jimmy Graham planning to make his retirement official

New Orleans Saints legend Jimmy Graham planning to make his retirement official

USA Today5 days ago
Graham is retiring with a compelling case for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
The New Orleans Saints have had two of their players retire already during the 2025 offseason, with quarterback Derek Carr and offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk both hanging up their cleats. This is something the Saints may come to expect over the next few seasons, as their roster is still working through a transition from one of the oldest across the NFL to an average age, or even below.
They will have a third retirement to add to the books this offseason as well, as legendary tight end Jimmy Graham is set to retire as a Saint, as was reported by team senior writer John DeShazier.
His six years of playing time with the Saints were absolutely and truly astounding, posting 392 receptions for 4,791 receiving yards and 55 touchdowns in only 91 games and 52 starts. Over his entire career, he had 719 receptions for 8,545 receiving yards and 89 touchdowns through 197 games played.
Graham came back for his last season in 2023 and, even at 37 years old, was producing in the Red Zone, with six receptions, four of which were for touchdowns. As someone who was lucky enough to witness his last career touchdown on that mid-December slog-fest against the New York Giants, it is rather bittersweet, as you never know which reception or touchdown could be the player's last.
He has plenty to do outside of football, though, as many have already seen, including his recent completion of the Arctic Challenge, a love for flying, and so much more. Graham is a player who will no doubt be a Saints Hall of Famer and Ring of Honor member, as DeShazier mentioned. His case to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is also a strong one, as he sits right around some other key inductees such as Charlie Sanders. It will be intriguing to see how that all plays out, but for now, it is time for him to just enjoy the good life.
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