For kids going through a difficult childhood, the big dream would be for their life to turn around for good like that of Jimmy Graham, who against all adversity has gone on to become a star American footballer and a double major graduate after suffering a lot of emotional and physical abuse as a child.
The wide receiver, who has played in five Pro Bowls, has since entering the National Football League in 2010, been on the books of the New Orleans Saints (2010–2014), Seattle Seahawks (2015–2017), and Green Bay Packers (2018–present).
Biography (Age, Ethnicity)
Jimmy Graham was born on the 24th November 1986 in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He was raised by a single mother who eventually gave him up for adoption when he was in high school. His mother is Caucasian while his father is African-American making him of mixed ethnicity.
He attended Community Christian School and then Charis Prep, both in Wilson, North Carolina. During his time in high school, Graham had notable basketball talent which earned him a scholarship to attend the University of Miami. From 2005 to 2009, when he graduated with a double major in marketing and management, Graham played for his school’s men’s basketball team. After graduating, the former college basketball player stayed back in Miami for an extra year to take graduate classes. During this time, he featured for the school’s football team, playing the tight end position.
In his one college football season where he featured 13 times, Graham was able to catch the attention of NFL teams as he managed 17 receptions for 213 yards and five touchdowns. He was noted for his athletic ability and speed as a big man. However, having just played one season of college football, there were concerns that Graham may not be able to live up to expectations in the big leagues. Despite all, the New Orleans Saints selected him in the third round with the 95th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft.
On July 28, 2010, Jimmy Graham signed a four-year, $2.445 million rookie contract with his new side and was made a backup to former University of Miami athlete Jeremy Shockey. Graham went on to play in only 5 games that year but still managed a somewhat impressive 31 catches for 356 yards and 5 touchdowns.
The following season, Graham became a starter and showed the other teams in the league what they missed out on in the previous year’s draft. He had 99 catches for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns which were all recording breaking or equaling stats. He was the first tight end in the history of his team to have more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season while his 99 catches was also a Saints franchise record. His 11 touchdowns also tied the franchise record for touchdowns in a season. He went on to make his Pro Bowl debut that season and the rest became history.
Jimmy Graham Parents
Jimmy Graham had a very torrid childhood that was filled with abuse and instability. Details about his biological father are not known as he was raised by a single mother in the lower middle-class income range. From time to time, Graham’s mother sent him to live with relatives because she was not able to provide for her child. After failing to find a relative to permanently unload her son to, she arranged a custody agreement with her ex-husband, however, the arrangement fell through over a $98 per month child support payment which the man demanded.
With no other option left, his biological mother signed her son off to a group home for orphans and troubled youth and occasionally to social services. At around the age of 11, Graham found solace at a weekly prayer group that offered free food. It was here that he met the woman who he holds very dear to his heart today, Becky Vinson, a young nursing student who after interacting with him, decided to adopt him. Under her care, Jimmy Graham improved his grades in school and became a star athlete.
Does He Have a Wife or Girlfriend?
Details about Jimmy Graham’s relationship history might be the best-kept secret ever by the athlete as there’s no information regarding him having dated anyone or being married. The North Carolina native has made sure all his attention has been put towards making the best out of his football career as he probably waits to find his soul mate.
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He has, however, been in the past falsely linked to actress MacKenzie Mauzy who like Graham, is also from Goldsboro, North Carolina.
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Height, Weight, and Body Measurements
Jimmy Graham is 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) tall. His height makes it very suitable for him to play as a tight end, a position typically reserved for tall people. You can also see why the University of Miami graduate was able to play four good years of college basketball, which height is a significant physical prerequisite for. To accompany his height, Graham weighs in at 265 pounds (120 kg) and has an arm length of 35 inches.