Aaron Graham Named Recipient of Gerald R. Ford Legends Award

Will be presented at the Rimington Trophy banquet on Jan. 15

Rimington Trophy

Former Nebraska center Aaron Graham will receive the 2021 Gerald R. Ford Legends Award next week at the Rimington Trophy presentation banquet at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln.

The legends award was established in 2005 by the Rimington Trophy and the office of former President Gerald R. Ford. It is presented annually to former collegiate and professional centers who, in addition to standout football careers, have made significant contributions in the football, business or philanthropic communities.

Graham was born in Las Vegas, NM, on May 22, 1973. His family moved to Lubbock, Texas, when he was 2 months old, and he would later attend Denton High School in Denton, where he earned all-district, all-area and honorable mention all-state honors on the football team.

In 1991, Aaron accepted a football scholarship at the University of Nebraska, where he went on to play in 49 games for the Huskers at center and long snapper. During his collegiate career, Aaron's teams posted a 45-4 record and participated in three national championship games, winning two of them in the 1994 and 1995 seasons. As a team captain in 1995, Aaron earned All-America honors both on the field and in the classroom and received the prestigious NCAA Top Eight Award.

Aaron was chosen by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL draft. His professional football career spanned seven years as he played in 92 NFL games for the Cardinals, Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans.

After his retirement from the NFL in 2003, Aaron began a career in real estate, starting his own land brokerage company, Premier Outdoor Properties, in 2006. Ten years later, Aaron merged his company with National Land Realty, where he currently serves as president and partner of the organization’s parent company, National Land LLC.

More information about the Rimington Trophy and ticket options for the Jan. 15 event can be found on their website. 

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