Newly retired from the National Football League (NFL), Jimmy Graham, BBA ’09, has begun a new season where his football career began: the University of Miami. After 13 years as an NFL tight end, the five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All Pro seamlessly transitioned from professional athletics to business leadership and philanthropy as a real estate developer and venture capital partner. Now, he is playing a key position on a new roster: the Board of Governors of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the Miller School of Medicine.
“Cancer touches so many lives; I want to be part of the solution,” said Graham, who has supported Sylvester for many years as a participant in the Dolphins Cancer Challenge (DCC), raising funds to support innovative cancer research. “My goal is to continue helping Sylvester grow as a leader in research, patient care and community outreach while also supporting initiatives that bring comfort to patients and their families. It’s not just about treatment; it’s about restoring hope and creating experiences that remind people that they’re not alone in the fight.”
Graham is no stranger to a struggle. He lived a difficult childhood before being adopted by a church youth counselor who supported him academically and athletically. Graham became a star basketball player in high school, earning a scholarship to the University of Miami. He played basketball for four years before joining the Hurricanes football team as a graduate student. After an impressive season, Graham was drafted by the New Orleans Saints, where, as a first-year starter, he was selected to play in the Pro Bowl. He later went on to play for the Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears before returning to the Saints this past July to officially retire.
“I joined the Board of Governors because I believe in strengthening the bond between health care and community, ensuring that innovation and compassion reach every family that calls South Florida home.”
Outside of football, Graham pursues other passions, including aviation. It’s become such an important part of his life that the mission of the charitable Jimmy Graham Foundation is to provide life-changing and impactful experiences through flight. Graham, an accomplished pilot, chairs the EAA Young Eagles program, the world’s largest volunteer air force, which has introduced more than 2.1 million children to flight. He’s also involved with Angel Flight, a charity that provides free air transportation for medically related needs.
Graham’s latest adventure involved the endurance sport of open-water rowing. As with flight, he appreciates what the competitive sport does for the mind and spirit.
In July, Graham and his team completed The Arctic Challenge, rowing more than 584 nautical miles across the Arctic Ocean from the Norwegian town of Tromsø to Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago halfway to the North Pole. The team made it in a little over 10 days, beating the previous record by more than five days and making history as the first mixed-gender team to complete the crossing.
Rowing was a natural progression for Graham from cycling, which he’d started doing to help rehabilitate a ruptured patellar tendon. Through cycling, he was introduced to the DCC and Sylvester, the region’s only National Cancer Institute–designated cancer center, recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 50 cancer centers in the nation. It was also where Graham met Sylvester Director Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., another avid cyclist.
“I am impressed with the level of commitment and skill Jimmy exhibits in everything he does,” said Dr. Nimer, who is the Oscar de la Renta Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and executive dean for research at the Miller School. “From his early days playing for the U to his accomplishments on the field as an NFL legend, and now in the professional and philanthropic sectors, Jimmy has always demonstrated excellence and a determination to make a difference. His dedication to helping others aligns perfectly with his new role as a member of the Sylvester Board of Governors.”
Jayne S. Malfitano, chair of Sylvester’s Board of Governors, welcomes the fresh perspective Graham will bring to the board.
“Jimmy gives his all when pursuing his passions, whether that be football, rowing in The Arctic Challenge or introducing children to the beauty of flight through his charitable work,” said Malfitano, who is also president of the Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation. “He is supercharged in everything he takes on, and we are fortunate that he is bringing that passion and focus to the Sylvester Board of Governors.”
As a board member, Graham says he is grateful for the opportunity to help with community engagement, continuing the great work Sylvester and UHealth – University of Miami Health System do in the community.
“I joined the Board of Governors because I believe in strengthening the bond between health care and community, ensuring that innovation and compassion reach every family that calls South Florida home,” he said.
