 Daniel Graham was born on Nov. 16, 1978 in Torrance, California ... Father, Tom, played collegiately at Oregon (where he still holds the Ducks' record for career tackles), and in the NFL with the Denver Broncos (1972-74) ... His twin brother, Josh, played football as a freshman at North Carolina ... An older brother, Phillip, played defensive back at Colorado State in the late 1980s ... As a senior, he was a PrepStar All- America choice and was selected as a SuperPrep All-Midlands team member at Thomas Jefferson (Denver, Colo.) High ... Won the Randy Brewer Award as a senior, given by the school to the most inspirational player in honor of the late former coach ... As a senior, he caught 33 passes for 741 yards and six touchdowns ... On defense he recorded 29 tackles (15 solos) as an outside linebacker (he started seven games), with 12 quarterback sacks ... Lettered three times in basketball and averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds in six games as a senior ... Owned a 3.2 grade point average and was the school's recipient of the Junior Class Academic Award (highest GPA of all the juniors) ... Majored in ethnic studies at Colorado.
Daniel Graham was drafted by the Patriots in the first round (21st overall) of the 2002 NFL draft … Signed with the Patriots (07/23/02).
| Regular Season |
Receiving |
Miscellaneous |
| Year |
Team |
G/S |
No |
Yds |
Avg |
Lg |
TD |
Spt |
Tkl |
Fum |
Own Rec |
| 2002 |
Patriots |
12/6 |
15 |
150 |
10.0 |
31 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| 2003 |
Patriots |
14/9 |
38 |
409 |
10.8 |
38 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2004 |
Patriots |
14/14 |
30 |
364 |
12.1 |
48 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2005 |
Patriots |
11/9 |
16 |
235 |
14.7 |
45t |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| 2006 |
Patriots |
12/11 |
21 |
235 |
11.2 |
29 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Totals |
|
63/49 |
120 |
1393 |
11.6 |
48 |
17 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Career GP/GS: 63/49 (11/5)
In five NFL seasons (2002-06), Graham has recorded 120 receptions for 1,393 yards and 17 touchdowns. He leads all Patriots tight ends in each of those categories over that span.
Graham's 17 touchdown catches in a Patriots uniform are tied for third all-time among New England tight ends since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, while only Ben Coates (50, 1991-99) and Russ Francis (28, 1975-80, 87-88) have recorded more touchdowns than Graham.
Graham tied for the team lead in 2004 with seven touchdown receptions and finished fourth on the team with 30 catches for 364 yards, while starting a career high 14 games.
Graham's seven touchdown catches in 2004 tied Christian Fauria's 2002 total as the most scoring grabs by a Patriots tight end since Ben Coates had eight touchdowns in 1997.
Graham tied a Patriots record by catching a touchdown pass in five consecutive regular-season games. His streak began in the final game of the 2003 regular season and extended through the first four games of the 2004 season.
Graham's blocking contributions helped to revitalize the Patriots' running game in 2004 as the team finished with its highest yards-per-carry number in 19 years (4.07 yards per carry).
Graham's 38 catches for the Patriots in 2003 were the most by a Patriots tight end since Ben Coates led the team in receiving with 67 receptions in 1998.
Graham had the most productive outing of his career against Cleveland (10/26/03), when he grabbed seven passes for 110 yards and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts as the Patriots defeated the Browns, 9-3.
Graham tied for second on the team with four touchdown receptions in 2003.
Graham made nine catches for 20 yards or more in 2003, tying him with David Givens for the team lead in lengthy catches.
Graham busted into the end zone for his first NFL touchdown after making a one-handed 18-yard grab vs. Kansas City (09/22/02).
Graham posted three receptions for 68 yards at Buffalo (11/03/02) and earned Pepsi Rookie of the Week honors for his performance against the Bills.
2006 (12/11/0/4): Named an offensive captain for the 2006 season ... Led the team or tied for the team lead in receptions twice in 2006 (at CIN, at MIA) ... Collected his 100th career reception with a 23-yard grab in the Patriots' 19-17 victory over Buffalo (9/10/06).
Buffalo (9/10): Started at tight end and collected one reception for 23 yards in the Patriots' 19-17 victory over the Bills. at N.Y. Jets (9/17): Started at tight end ... Created separation down the field and grabbed a 29-yard reception from Tom Brady on the final play of the first quarter. Denver (9/24): Got the start at tight end and collected two receptions for 19 yards. at Cincinnati (10/1): Started at tight end and tied for the team lead with four receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' commanding 38-13 victory over the Bengals ... Hauled in a 3-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady giving the Patriots a 38-13 lead with 7:55 remaining in the final stanza. vs. Miami (10/8): Inactive. at Buffalo (10/22): Inactive. at Minnesota (10/30): Inactive. Indianapolis (11/5): Inactive. vs. N.Y. Jets (11/12): Returned to the lineup and got the start at tight end ... Hauled in a 6-yard reception in the second quarter. at Green Bay (11/19): Started at tight end in the Patriots' 35-0 road victory over the Packers ... Got the Patriots on the scoreboard with a 2-yard touchdown grab in the back of the end zone on a fourth-and-one play in the first quarter ... Set up the Patriots' second touchdown by drawing a 22-yard pass interference penalty at the Packers 1-yard line. vs. Chicago (11/26): Started at tight end in the Patriots' 17-13 victory over the Bears ... Made an acrobatic, 25-yard reception on a deep pass down the middle of the field during the Patriots' opening scoring drive. vs. Detroit (12/3): Started at tight end and snared two receptions for 24 yards in the Patriots' 28-21 comeback victory over the Lions. at Miami (12/10): Started at tight end ... Led the team with four receptions for 23 yards ... Grabbed an 8-yard reception from Matt Cassel on third-and-six in the fourth quarter. vs. Houston (12/17): Started at tight end in the Patriots' commanding 40-7 victory over the Texans. at Jacksonville (12/24): Played in a reserve role at tight end and snared three receptions for 44 yards in the Patriots' 24-21 division-clinching win over the Jaguars ... Grabbed a 19-yard pass over the middle in the third quarter ... Hauled in an 18-yard strike over the middle between two Jaguars' defenders in the fourth quarter. at Tennessee (12/31): Started at tight end and grabbed one reception for six yards in the Patriots' 40-23 victory over the Titans. 2006 Postseason (3/2/0/0): vs. N.Y. Jets (1/7): Started at tight end and collected a touchdown grab in the Patriots' 37-16 AFC Wild Card victory over the N.Y. Jets ... Snared a 1-yard touchdown reception from Tom Brady in the back of the end zone, giving the Patriots a 17-10 lead just before halftime. at San Diego (1/14): Played in a reserve role at tight end ... Grabbed two receptions for 38 yards in the Patriots' 24-21 AFC Divisional playoff victory over the Charger ... Hauled in a 19-yard reception from Tom Brady in the second quarter ... Kickstarted the Patriots' game-winning scoring drive with a 19-yard reception down the seam in the fourth quarter. at Indianapolis (1/21): Started at tight end and grabbed one reception for 25 yards ... Got the Patriots' final scoring drive started with a leaping 25-yard reception over the middle in the fourth quarter.
 2005 (11/9/2/1): Set a career high with 119 receiving yards against Atlanta (10/09/05). Oakland (9/8): Started at tight end as the Patriots opened the game in a two tight end set … Grabbed one reception for 17 yards in the Patriots’ 30-20 victory over the Raiders on opening night. at Carolina (9/18): Opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown grab from Tom Brady to give the Patriots a 7-0 advantage with 3:40 remaining in the first quarter. at Pittsburgh (9/25): Started at tight end but did not record a reception in the Patriots’ 23-20 victory over the Steelers. San Diego (10/2): Started at tight end but did not record a reception. at Atlanta (10/9): Set a career high and led the team with 119 receiving yards on five receptions in the Patriots’ 31-28 win over the Falcons … Hauled in a screen pass, hurdled Stephen Neal and plowed his way to the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter … Got open down the middle of the field and snared a 45-yard reception on the first play from scrimmage in the second half … Grabbed a 15-yard reception in the fourth quarter. at Denver (10/16): Grabbed a 5-yard pass in the second quarter … Collected a solo tackle on special teams coverage units. Buffalo (10/30): Started at tight end and hauled in a 15-yard reception in the second quarter of the Patriots’ 21-16 victory over the Bills on Sunday Night Football. Indianapolis (11/7): Grabbed five receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown … Hauled in a perfect screen pass and rumbled 31 yards for a touchdown with 5:46 remaining in the third quarter. at Miami (11/13): Inactive. New Orleans (11/20): Saw limited action on only the onside kick "hands" team during the Patriots’ 24-17 win over the Saints. at Kansas City (11/27): Started at tight end and snared two receptions for 37 yards … Got the Patriots’ first scoring drive started with a 22-yard reception on a screen play in the second quarter … Extended the Patriots’ first touchdown drive of the afternoon by hauling in a 15-yard reception on third-and-12 in the third quarter. N.Y. Jets (12/4): Inactive. at Buffalo (12/11): Inactive. Tampa Bay (12/17): Played in a reserve role at tight end and did not record a reception in the Patriots’ 28-0 shutout victory over the Buccaneers. at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Inactive. Miami (1/1): Inactive.
2005 Postseason (2/1/0/0): Jacksonville (1/7): Played in a reserve role at tight end in the Patriots’ 28-3 AFC Wild Card victory over the Jaguars. at Denver (1/14): Started at tight end and grabbed one reception for 18 yards.
2004 (14/14, 3/2): Started all 14 games in which he appeared at tight end … Tied for the team lead with a career-high seven touchdown receptions … Finished fourth on the team with 30 receptions and 364 receiving yards … His seven touchdown catches tied Christian Fauria’s seven scores in 2002 as the most by a Patriots tight end since Ben Coates recorded eight scores in 1997 … Snared a career-high 48-yard reception during the Patriots’ 27-19 Monday Night victory over Kansas City (11/22/04). Indianapolis (9/9): Tied for the team lead with seven receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots’ 27-24 victory over the Colts … Grabbed an 8-yard touchdown toss from Tom Brady to give the Patriots a 27-17 lead … Snared a 21-yard reception with four seconds remaining in the second quarter to set up Adam Vinatieri’s 43-yard field goal. at Arizona (9/19): Started at tight end and snared two touchdown passes in the Patriots’ 23-12 victory over the Cardinals … Grabbed a 2-yard touchdown toss from Tom Brady to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead … Hauled in his second touchdown of the game from 19 yards out on third-and-19 to give the Patriots a 14-0 advantage. at Buffalo (10/3): Started at tight end and collected two catches for 35 yards, including a touchdown in the Patriots’ 31-17 victory over the Bills … Got open in the back of the end zone and snared a 2-yard touchdown pass to give the Patriots’ a 24-17 lead … Gave the Patriots some breathing room from their 1-yard line with a 33-yard reception in the third quarter. Miami (10/10): Started at tight end in the Patriots’ 24-10 victory over the Dolphins … Gave the Patriots an early 7-0 lead with a 1-yard touchdown reception from Tom Brady. Seattle (10/17): Grabbed four receptions for 45 yards in the Patriots’ 30-20 victory over the Seahawks … Extended a Patriots scoring drive with a 24-yard reception on third-and-10. N.Y. Jets (10/24): Grabbed two receptions for 21 yards in the Patriots’ 13-7 win over the Jets. at Kansas City (11/22): Hauled in three receptions for 83 yards in the Patriots’ 27-19 Monday Night victory over the Chiefs … Extended the Patriots initial scoring drive with a 27-yard grab on third-and-nine … Snared a career-high 48-yard reception on a catch-and-run play in the second quarter. Baltimore (11/28): Grabbed two receptions for 24 yards in the Patriots’ 24-3 victory over the Ravens. at Miami (12/20): Grabbed three receptions for 24 yards and a touchdown … Got open in the corner of the end zone and hauled in a 2-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to give the Patriots a 28-17 lead. at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Snared two catches for 30 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots’ 23-7 victory over the Jets … Got open in the end zone and hauled in a 16-yard play-action touchdown toss from Tom Brady to give the Patriots a 10-0 lead. Indianapolis (1/16): Played in a reserve role at tight end and grabbed one reception for 10 yards in the Patriots’ 20-3 victory over the Colts. at Pittsburgh (1/23): Started at tight end and grabbed one reception in the Patriots’ 41-27 AFC Championship victory over the Steelers. Philadelphia (2/6): Grabbed one reception for seven yards in the Patriots’ 24-21 victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.
2003 (14/9, 3/1): Caught 38 passes for 409 yards and tied for second on the team with four touchdown receptions … Named AFC Offensive Player of Week for his performance against the Browns in Week 8 when he recorded career highs with seven receptions for 110 yards (10/26) … Tied for the team lead with nine catches for 20 yards or more … Made three special teams tackles. N.Y. Jets (9/21): Set up Adam Vinatieri’s first field goal of the afternoon by hauling in a 31-yard pass from Tom Brady on second-and-one in the first quarter. Washington (9/28): Totaled three catches for 54 yards against the Redskins … Caught passes good for 22, 20 and 12 yards. Cleveland (10/26): Named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after tallying career-highs with seven receptions for 110 yards in the Patriots’ 9-3 victory over the Browns … Hauled in a 27-yard reception over two defenders in the middle of the field in the second quarter … Ignited the Patriots second scoring drive of the afternoon with a career-long 38-yard reception from Brady in the third quarter. Denver (11/3): Snared his first touchdown of the season with a full-extension grab in the end zone for a six-yard score that gave the Patriots a 20-17 advantage … Hauled in a 17-yard pass over the middle in the second quarter. Houston (11/23): Grabbed four passes for 53 yards in the Patriots’ 23-20 overtime victory over the Texans … Hauled in a four-yard touchdown with a leaping grab on fourth-and-one with 40 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score at 20 … Made a clutch catch on a 33-yard pass on third-and-10 that extended the drive that ended in his game-tying touchdown. Miami (12/7): Tied for the team lead with six catches for 24 yards … Teamed with Don Davis to stonewall punt returner Charlie Rogers for a six-yard loss in the second quarter. Jacksonville (12/14): Tied for the team lead with five catches and led the squad with 69 yards receiving … Got open in the left flat and hauled in a 27-yard touchdown reception to give the Patriots an early 7-0 lead … Snared a 30-yard pass over the middle in the third quarter. Buffalo (12/27): Grabbed his fifth touchdown reception of the season with a leaping one-yard catch to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Carolina (2/1): Hauled in four receptions for 46 yards in the Patriots’ 32-29 Super Bowl XXXVIII victory over the Panthers … Set up the Patriots third touchdown of the afternoon with a 33-yard reception over the middle in the third quarter.
2002 (12/6): Recorded 15 catches for 150 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown reception while starting six of 12 games during his rookie season … Earned Pepsi Rookie of the Week honors following the Patriots’ 38-7 win at Buffalo (11/3) … Recorded four solo special teams tackles … Placed on injured reserve on Dec. 24, 2002. N.Y. Jets (9/15): Participated in a reserve role at tight end … Caught his first professional pass as the Patriots beat New York, 44-7. Kansas City (9/22): Busted into the end zone after making a one-handed, 18-yard reception for his first professional touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter in the Patriots 41-38 overtime win over the Chiefs. San Diego (9/29): Got the start as the Patriots opened the game in a two-tight end formation … Hauled in a 15-yard reception to kick-start the Patriots second touchdown drive in the second quarter. Buffalo (11/3): Returned to the lineup for the first time since Week Four and made his presence felt by recording career highs with three receptions and 68 yards in the Patriots 38-7 win over the Bills … Snared a career-long, 31-yard pass in the third quarter … Helped block for Antowain Smith to rush for 111 yards. Detroit (11/28): Grabbed a 16-yard pass from Tom Brady on the Patriots final drive in their 20-12 win over the Lions on Thanksgiving Day … His catch on third-and-12 helped the Patriots extend their drive that ran the final 9:46 off of the clock. Tennessee (12/16): Started at tight end as the Patriots opened in a two-tight end set and was on the receiving end of Rohan Davey’s first career completion on the final play of the game.
Graham, recipient of the John Mackey Award, established to honor the country’s top tight end, became the fifth player in school history to earn unanimous All-American first-team honors (2001) … By winning the John Mackey Award, he became the eighth player in Colorado annals to garner a national postseason trophy … Finished his career with 106 receptions for 1,543 yards (14.6 avg) and 11 touchdowns. 2001 (Senior): Graham earned the John Mackey Award given to the nation’s top collegiate tight end … Unanimous All-American and All-Big 12 Conference first-team selection … Led all tight ends in the nation with 753 yards and six touchdown receptions and ranked second with 51 receptions. 2000 (Junior): Earned honorable mention All-American from the Football News, and was a unanimous second-team All-Big 12 Conference choice … Led the Big 12 conference’s tight ends in both receptions (33) and yards (443). 1999 (Sophomore): Earned third-team All-Big 12 Conference honors from the league’s coaches, and second-team honors from the Kansas City Star … Played in nine games, starting seven contests and caught 19 passes for 264 yards (13.9 avg), including four touchdowns. 1998 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in every game, including two starts at fullback position.
Daniel's father, Tom, played in the NFL with the Denver Broncos (1972-74) after spending his college career at Oregon (where he still holds the Ducks' record for career tackles).
Daniel has two brothers who also played college football.
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