Former Saints TE Jimmy Graham embarking on history-making journey across Arctic Ocean

Jimmy Graham was one of the most dominant tight ends in the NFL over the last decade and a half, catching 719 passes for 8,545 yards and 89 touchdowns. The majority of that production came with the New Orleans Saints, who he spent six seasons with. Throughout his 13-year career, Graham made five Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team.

However, anyone familiar with Jimmy Graham’s off-the-field life knows that he’s even more talented away from the gridiron. Graham is a pilot, a cyclist, a skydiver, and much more, and has been preparing to sail his boat around the world. Before that happens, Graham will embark on another challenging journey.

He recently announced plans to row nonstop across the Arctic Ocean in July of 2025.

Jimmy Graham plans to row nonstop across the Artic Ocean

Known as the Arctic Challenge, Graham will be accompanied by three other athletes: Former U.S. Navy Seal Andrew Tropp, 2021 USRowing's Female Coastal Athlete of the Year Hannah Huppi and 2021 bronze medalist in rowing John Huppi. The quartet will be attempting to go 1,000 kilometers, which equates to 621.3 miles.

If successful, the group could claim multiple records.

"There are multiple records on the line -- most notably a Guinness World Record for the first mixed-gendered team to row the Arctic Ocean. Athletes Guinness World Records include the first women to row the Arctic Ocean, first Black person to row a polar ocean and first married couple to row a polar ocean. It's also the first All-American team to row a polar ocean and could potentially be the fastest four-person team to row the Arctic Ocean -- the current record for a four-person group is 15 days, 5 hours and 32 minutes."

- Anthony Gharib (ESPN)

Beyond the records, the goal of the challenge is to positively impact the youth, which is why the challenge has partnered with three different nonprofit organizations.

Despite being the “lead navigator,” Graham is the most inexperienced rower of the team, admitting to former teammate Cam Jordan that he’s never rowed before.

So not only will Graham be picking up a new skill, but he’ll be applying that skill in one of the most challenging ways possible, rowing nonstop across the Arctic Ocean. Graham has over a year to get prepared for this journey.

READ MORE