Shocking reunion with Saints fan favorite finally made official after months of hints

The New Orleans Saints brought back a fan favorite this week on a one-year deal that was hinted, but still a pleasant surprise.

The New Orleans Saints made a move on Tuesday that will earn some goodwill with the fanbase for quite some time. Tight end Jimmy Graham was signed to a one-year deal.

Graham was a Saints fan favorite for many years in New Orleans, spending the first five years of his career in the Big Easy until he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks prior to the 2015 season.

With Drew Brees as his quarterback, Graham revolutionized the tight end position and served more as a jumbo wide receiver. His basketball background from the University of Miami proved to be useful for him at the pro level because he could elevate for grabs and use his physique to dominate defenders.

Notably, Graham was the reason a rule was instituted against the “slam dunk” football celebration using goalposts because he bent one too many.

After his trade away from the Saints, no team quite used Graham the same way the Saints did. He nearly eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in 2016 but hovered around 500 for the following four years, and didn’t pass the 200-yard mark in 2022.

Jimmy Graham’s roster spot with New Orleans Saints was hinted months ago

In late April, Jimmy Graham took to Instagram to share his new bike frame. It was painted in black, gold and white. It’s very obviously Saints-inspired.

His caption read that it was to be used in his, “future,” retirement. Graham did not play during the 2022 season, and many assumed his retirement was all but official, so the wording sparked intrigue.

Now, we know why: He’s back with the Saints.

Graham’s one-year deal might not come with any guarantees (though the contract details have yet to be reported), and New Orleans will have to assess his readiness after taking a year off.

Graham spends his off time as a pilot (we’re not talking Cessnas, we’re talking planes with real G-forces behind them) and biker, so he should be in good shape. Still, his feel for the game after a year off might not be so solid.

Whether or not Graham makes the final 53-man roster will be an interesting topic for fans to keep an eye on. His veteran presence will be a hugely beneficial thing to have during training camp regardless of his status on the final roster or practice squad.

Break out those Graham jerseys for training camp, folks. Jimmy is back.