From the End Zone to the Cockpit - Episode 67

NFL Alum and Pilot Jimmy Graham shares stories about stunt flying and how it helped him relax when off the field.

In this episode, we discuss how Jimmy earned his pilot certificates during his football career, airshow aerobatics, and his restored Vietnam-era UH-1 Huey and 1957 Army Beaver. We also explore Jimmy's role as Chairman of the EAA Young Eagles program, and his commitment to inspiring future aviators. From the discipline of professional football to the focus required in the cockpit, this one is going to be cool!

Resources:

• Jimmy Graham Bio
• EAA Bio
• Young Eagles
• Bell UH-1H Iroquois Fact Sheet (U.S. Air Force)
• de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver Fact Sheet (Wikipedia)

Chapters:

• (00:00) - – Welcome to Behind the Wings
• (01:04) - – Meet Jimmy Graham: NFL Star, Pilot & Aviation Advocate
• (01:29) - – Football vs Flying: Discipline, Checklists & Preparation
• (04:18) - – Early Aviation Inspiration: Top Gun, Military Roots & the A-10
• (05:52) - – College Years: Miami, Academics & Life Choices
• (07:25) - – Bernie Kosar & the Unexpected Path to the NFL
• (08:55) - – From Fourth-String to Draft Day
• (09:44) - – First Huddle with Drew Brees
• (10:29) - – Career Highlights: Seattle, Green Bay & Chicago
• (11:04) - – Motivation Shift: From Survival to Serving Others
• (12:11) - – Why Start Flight School During an NFL Career
• (14:00) - – Ten Offseasons, Ten Licenses
• (15:12) - – The Reality of Flight Training & Checkrides
• (17:01) - – Aviation as a Lifelong Education
• (19:20) - – Decision-Making Under Pressure: Cockpit vs Game Day
• (20:30) - – First Aerobatic Flight: “Inverted Over an Island”
• (21:16) - – Young Eagles: Sparking a Love of Flight
• (23:08) - – Aviation as Therapy After Football
• (25:44) - – Seaplanes, the Beaver & the Vietnam-Era Huey
• (28:36) - – Growing Young Eagles & Creating Possibility
• (32:31) - – Airshows, Aerobatics & What’s Next
• (35:33) - - Advice
• (37:33) - - Outro