Corey Graham
{{Short description|American football player (born 1985)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Corey Graham
| image = Corey Graham.JPG
| alt =
| caption = Graham with the Chicago Bears in 2011
| number = 21, 24, 20
| position = Safety
Cornerback
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|7|25|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Buffalo, New York, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 196
| high_school = Turner-Carroll
(Buffalo, New York)
| college = New Hampshire (2003–2006)
| draftyear = 2007
| draftround = 5
| draftpick = 168
| pastteams =
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2007|2011}})
- Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2012|2013}})
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2014|2016}})
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2017|2018}})
| highlights =
- 2× Super Bowl champion (XLVII, LII)
- Pro Bowl (2011)
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2007)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 707
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 3.0
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 3
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 6
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 = 18
| statlabel6 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 1
| pfr = GrahCo99
}}
Corey Dewayne Graham (born July 25, 1985) is an American former professional football player who played safety and cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at New Hampshire Wildcats and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and Philadelphia Eagles. Graham was a one-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time Super Bowl champion.
College career
Graham attended the University of New Hampshire, where he played for the New Hampshire Wildcats football team. He later earned Master of Business Administration from Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington.{{cite web| url =https://blog.kelley.iu.edu/2018/01/30/four-nfl-players-are-pursuing-the-vince-lombardi-trophy-and-a-kelley-school-masters-degree/| title = Four NFL players are pursuing the Vince Lombardi Trophy and a Kelley School master’s degree|publisher=Kelley School of Business|accessdate=21 May 2025}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0
| weight = 195
| dash = 4.42
| ten split =
| twenty split =
| shuttle =
| cone drill =
| vertical =
| broad ft =
| broad in =
| bench = 10
| wonderlic =
| arm span =
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| note = All values from NFL Combine{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2007-combine.htm|title=Pro Football Reference: 2007 NFL Combine|work=National Football League|access-date=August 26, 2018}}
}}
=Chicago Bears=
The Chicago Bears selected Graham in the fifth round (168th overall) of the 2007 NFL draft. He was the 17th cornerback drafted in 2007.{{Cite web |title=2007 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2007/draft.htm |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
On May 22, 2007, the Chicago Bears signed Graham to a four-year, $1.81 million contract that included a signing bonus of $149,500.{{cite web |title=Spotrac.com: Corey Graham contract |url=https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/corey-graham-1278/ |access-date=October 21, 2021 |website=spotrac.com}}
In 2008, Graham started at cornerback alongside longtime Bear Charles Tillman. Graham registered his first career interception on October 19, 2008, off of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Gus Frerotte.{{Cite web |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=5270 |title=Young cornerbacks step in and step up in Bears victory |access-date=October 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021012329/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=5270 |archive-date=October 21, 2008 |url-status=dead }} Graham also recorded 91 tackles in the 2008 season.
Graham was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2011 after a season in which he recorded 16 total tackles, deflected three passes, forced a fumble, and caught three interceptions.[http://www.unhwildcats.com/sports/fball/2011-12/releases/20111228ver8f5 Wildcat Alum Corey Graham Earns NFC Pro Bowl Berth for Chicago Bears] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202070814/http://www.unhwildcats.com/sports/fball/2011-12/releases/20111228ver8f5 |date=February 2, 2012 }}
=Baltimore Ravens=
Graham signed with the Baltimore Ravens on March 23, 2012.{{cite web | last=Dickerson | first=Jeff | title=Special teams ace Graham agrees with Ravens | website=ESPN.com | date=2012-03-23 | url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/7726956/chicago-bears-free-agent-corey-graham-agrees-baltimore-ravens | access-date=2025-04-26}} Graham said that upon signing with the Ravens, he looked to see more time on defense, as well as continuing his solid special teams play.[http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/nfl-rapidreports/19722142/ravens-cb-corey-graham-says-bears-never-gave-him-chance Ravens CB Corey Graham says Bears never gave him chance]Jason Butt, CBS Sports
File:Corey Graham Ravens.JPG in 2012.]]
Graham had a limited role on defense at first, but injuries to Lardarius Webb and Jimmy Smith helped earn him more playing time.
Graham was named the CBS player of the game for the Baltimore Ravens' 2012 Divisional round playoff game against the top seeded Denver Broncos. In this game, Graham intercepted two Peyton Manning passes and made 8 tackles. Graham returned his first interception of the game 39 yards for a touchdown, giving the Ravens a 14–7 lead midway through the first quarter. Graham's second interception of the game occurred in overtime and led to a Ravens game-winning field goal, advancing the team to the AFC championship game.[http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Joining-Ravens-Best-Decision-Of-Corey-Grahams-Life/db971b37-50e9-491f-a46d-ac38f39260bf Joining Ravens Best Decision Of Corey Graham's Life] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115103922/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Joining-Ravens-Best-Decision-Of-Corey-Grahams-Life/db971b37-50e9-491f-a46d-ac38f39260bf |date=January 15, 2013 }} Garrett Downing, Baltimore Ravens.com Retrieved January 14, 2013. The Ravens entered the game as 9.5 point underdogs, but won the game in double overtime, 38–35, thanks in part to Graham's performance. Graham would call joining the Ravens the second best decision of his life, behind marrying his wife. Graham earned his first Super Bowl ring on February 3, 2013, when the Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201302030sfo.htm |title=Super Bowl XLVII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens - February 3rd, 2013 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=November 8, 2017}}
=Buffalo Bills=
On March 12, 2014, Graham signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the Buffalo Bills.{{cite web | title=Corey Graham agrees to four-year deal with Bills | website=NBC Sports | date=2014-03-12 | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/corey-graham-agrees-to-four-year-deal-with-bills | access-date=2024-11-29}} He contributed as a cornerback and on special teams during his first season on the team before being moved to the starting safety position under head coach Rex Ryan.{{Cite web |title=Bills resume defensive shuffle, discard Graham |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18875683/corey-graham-released-buffalo-bills |last=Rodak |first=Mike |date=March 10, 2017 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |access-date=May 22, 2020}}
On March 10, 2017, Graham was released by the Bills after the team signed Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer.{{cite web|title=Bills release veteran Corey Graham|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-release-veteran-Corey-Graham/a7692001-0e62-4d29-afed-221637909a79|author=Brown, Chris|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=March 10, 2017|access-date=March 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311012444/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-release-veteran-Corey-Graham/a7692001-0e62-4d29-afed-221637909a79|archive-date=March 11, 2017|url-status=dead}}
=Philadelphia Eagles=
On August 3, 2017, Graham signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles reuniting him with former teammates Torrey Smith and Dannell Ellerbe.{{cite web|title=EEagles sign Corey Graham|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/08/03/eagles-sign-corey-graham/|author=Alper, Josh|website=ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com|date=August 3, 2017}} Graham won his second Super Bowl ring when the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII with Graham recording five tackles.{{cite web | last=Jones | first=Lindsay H. | title=Super Bowl 2018: Eagles dethrone Tom Brady, Patriots in stunner | website=USA TODAY | date=2018-02-05 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/super/2018/02/04/super-bowl-2018-score-philadelphia-eagles-new-england-patriots/305840002/ | access-date=2024-10-31}} Coincidentally, both that game and the other Super Bowl he was part of the winning team on, XLVII, were two of only three Super Bowls in NFL history where both teams recorded at least 30 points, the other being XIII between the Cowboys and Steelers.
On August 5, 2018, Graham re-signed with the Eagles on a one-year deal.{{cite web|title=Corey Graham Returns And Eagles Add Tight End|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/corey-graham-returns-and-eagles-add-tight-end|author=McPherson, Chris|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=August 5, 2018}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| Bold
| Career high |
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |
| 2007 | CHI
| 13 || 0 || 15 || 13 || 2 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2008 | CHI
| 16 || 9 || 90 || 76 || 14 || 0.0 || 3 || 1 || 6 || 0 || 6 || 8 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2009 | CHI
| 16 || 1 || 35 || 31 || 4 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2010 | CHI
| 16 || 0 || 23 || 22 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2011 | CHI
| 16 || 0 || 18 || 15 || 3 || 0.0 || 0 || 3 || 11 || 0 || 10 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2012 | BAL
| 16 || 8 || 60 || 42 || 18 || 0.0 || 1 || 2 || 20 || 0 || 20 || 8 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2013 | BAL
| 16 || 5 || 74 || 56 || 18 || 1.0 || 5 || 4 || 28 || 0 || 28 || 12 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2014 | BUF
| 16 || 9 || 84 || 65 || 19 || 0.0 || 0 || 2 || 75 || 0 || 45 || 16 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2015 | BUF
| 16 || 16 || 127 || 96 || 31 || 1.0 || 4 || 2 || 60 || 1 || 44 || 4 || 0 || 2 || 29 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2016 | BUF
| 16 || 16 || 87 || 62 || 25 || 1.0 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 9 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2017 | PHI
| 14 || 1 || 38 || 34 || 4 || 0.0 || 1 || 2 || 73 || 0 || 59 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2018 | PHI
| 13 || 9 || 56 || 43 || 13 || 0.0 || 1 || 1 || 29 || 0 || 29 || 5 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| | 184 | 74 | 707 | 555 | 152 | 3.0 | 17 | 18 | 302 | 1 | 59 | 70 | 3 | 6 | 29 | 0 |
=Playoffs=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |
| 2010 | CHI
| 2 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2012 | BAL
| 4 || 4 || 32 || 20 || 12 || 0.5 || 0 || 2 || 39 || 1 || 39 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2017 | PHI
| 3 || 1 || 15 || 12 || 3 || 0.0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2018 | PHI
| 2 || 2 || 8 || 6 || 2 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| | 11 | 7 | 57 | 40 | 17 | 0.5 | 0 | 3 | 39 | 1 | 39 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140314001429/http://www.buffalobills.com/team/roster/Corey-Graham/1d992e6d-5c5e-4957-8615-58b6376ad7ec Buffalo Bills bio]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130121202000/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/roster/corey-graham/8b9945e2-9fd2-4557-8484-875a2011c1d7/ Baltimore Ravens bio]
{{Bears2007DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XLVII}}
{{Super Bowl LII}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graham, Corey}}
Category:Players of American football from Buffalo, New York
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:New Hampshire Wildcats football players
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:Baltimore Ravens players
Category:Buffalo Bills players
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players
Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen
Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen
Category:20th-century American sportsmen