Debrief /

Football fans who check out Jimmy Graham’s Instagram profile might be surprised to see more photographs of the Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl tight end in the cockpit of his Extra aerobatic airplane than in a football jersey. The player got hooked on flying in college when a friend took him for an aerobatic ride. “My two passions—football and flying—aren’t just thrilling; they require lots of preparation, as well as concentration,” he said. “In both, I need to earn the trust of those around me.” While Graham ended this season early with an injury, the Seahawks expect him back for the start of the 2016 season.

Getting started… My favorite movie as a kid was Top Gun. I watched it nearly 1,000 times on VHS. So I always wanted to fly airplanes. During college, a friend of mine took me for a ride in his stunt plane, flying upside down for a while, and I was hooked.

Best aviation experiences… Anyone who follows me on Instagram knows that aerobatics is one of my favorite things to do. I intend on competing sooner rather than later. Beyond that, my favorite aviation experiences are the ones that I don’t plan in advance. I’ll stop at small airports, rent a car, and explore a city or town I’d never even considered visiting.

Interest in aerobatics… When it comes to aerobatics, there’s always more to learn, but there’s no room for error. I need to constantly focus on what I’m doing, from being in the moment to thinking ahead to my next maneuver or certification.

Advice for students… Work hard and stay focused. It’s easy to compare yourself to someone who has more hours than you, or someone who has more available to them than you do. However, with just about anything in life, if you work hard, you can go anywhere and can do anything you set your mind to. If you want to succeed in flying, you need to make the time commitment and understand the responsibility that comes with being a pilot.