Former NFL star Jimmy Graham makes history with 584-mile Arctic rowing challenge
Retired NFL tight end Jimmy Graham added to his already impressive sporting resume by completing the 584-mile Arctic Challenge in record time, as detailed by the Saints website.
Graham, 38, alongside Andrew Tropp, Hannah Huppi and John Huppi, set a new record for a quartet by completing the grueling journey in a little more than 10 days.
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3 Jimmy Graham and his team.
@thejimmygraham/Instagram
They are the first mixed-gender team and first All-American squad to accomplish the feat, while Graham is the first Black individual and Hannah the first woman to row a polar ocean, per the recap.
The Arctic Challenge is is '600-mile, record-setting expedition across the Arctic Ocean,' per its website.
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The group began July 4 in Tromso, Norway, and finished July 14 in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, according to the Saints' recap.
The average trip is roughly 16 1/2 days, per the report, and previous record of 15 days, five hours and 32 minutes had been set in 2023 by Ocean Revival.
3 Graham rowing during the Arctic Challenge.
@thearcticchallenge2025/Instagram
Graham and his teammate reportedly faced inclement weather throughout the journey that forced them to drop anchor at two points, while rain and clouds affects their electronics.
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The five-time Pro Bowler provided updates to his Instagram account during the voyage, including a Day 3 recap featuring 'freezing winds, sleep shifts, and non-stop seas.'
'It's been raining nonstop for 24 hours. No sun for 72. We're officially in battery conservation mode Everything's wet. Everything's cold,' he wrote last week in a separate post. 'But the mission? Still fully charged. We are so thankful for everyone's continued support through this journey. Let's go!'
The journey had a charitable side to it, with the four raising funds for Covenant House New Orleans and Laureus Sport for Good New Orleans, per the recap.
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3 Jimmy Graham all bundled up.
@thearcticchallenge2025/Instagram
Graham spent six of his 13 NFL seasons with the Saints, starring in the Big Easy from 2010-14 before finishing his season with the team in 2023.
He also spent three seasons with the Seahawks and two each with the Packers and Bears.
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