Brandon Cottom - Survivor 44

Seasons: 1 | Days played: 15 | Wins: 0 | Jury: 1

  • Survivor 44 (2023) - 10th place, 9th out - 2nd juror.
  • Voted out in Episode 8, "Don't Get Cocky, Kid" (Day 15).

Brandon Cottom on social media: twitter | Instagram

Brandon Cottom - Career statistics

Challenge stats Tribal council stats Jury stats Overall stats
Season ChW ChA ChW% VFB VAP TCA TC% wTCR JVF TotJ JV% SurvSc SurvAv
Survivor 44 2.28 3.82 0.60 2 4 4 0.47 1.75 - - - 1.06 4.03
Career 2.28 3.82 0.60 2 4 4 0.47 1.75 - - - 1.06 4.03

 

Brandon Cottom - Performance ranks

Challenges: MPF percentile

99%

Tribal: VFB% percentile

46%

Tribal: rVAP percentile

48%

Performance ranks are a quick visual measure of the contestant's season vs. historical data from all prior contestants, in three basic (scorable) categories:

1. Performance in individual challenges (MPF), as a measure of "physical game";

2. Ability to vote people out consistently (VFB%, or VFB/TCA), or "strategic game"; and

3. Ability to avoid being voted against (rVAP, or TCA-VAP) - which scales better than a percentage would - for "social/strategic game."

See also: Full glossary for all these abbreviations.

 

Brandon Cottom - Challenge record
Survivor 44 logo  Survivor 44 challenges

Ep3 RC/IC

Tribal/team challenge record (4-for-8; 3 2nds):

  • Survivor 44, Ep. 1 RC: "Crate Wide Open" - Grabs a puzzle piece, flings a ring, Ratu doesn't lose (2nd*/3).
  • Survivor 44, Ep. 1 IC: "Paradise Lost" - Paddles, hauls, stops for medical help; Ratu loses (3rd/3).
  • Survivor 44, Ep. 2 RC/IC: "A Bridge You Must Cross" - Crosses the bridge, and Ratu wins (1st/3).
  • Survivor 44, Ep. 3 RC/IC: "Box Car Blues" - Helps roll the cube, Ratu wins (1st/3).
  • Survivor 44, Ep. 4 RC: "Air Raid" - Hits two targets, Ratu takes second (2nd*/3).
  • Survivor 44, Ep. 4 IC: "Leap of Faith" - Grabs two keys, Ratu doesn't lose (2nd*/3).
  • Survivor 44, Ep. 5 IC: "EOC" - Works the table maze with Carson, Ratu wins (1st/3).
  • Survivor 44, Ep. 6 RC/IC: "No Quarter" - Pushes the ball for winning team.

 

Ep7 IC

Individual challenge record (1-for-2): (Mean % finish: 90.0%)

  • Survivor 44 , Ep. 7 IC: "Audio Slave" - Last standing for purple team; Brandon wins (1st/5).
  • Survivor 44 , Ep. 8 IC: "Eve 5" - Reaches final round, second out there (3rd/10).

 

Hero challenge/ duel record (0-for-0):

  • Survivor 44: None.
Career totals - challenges
Team/tribal challenges
Wins: 4
2nd place: 3
Played: 8
Win%: 0.69
Sat out: --
Individual challenges
Wins: 1
Played: 2
Win%: 0.50
Mean% Finish: 90.0%
Hero challenges
Wins: 0
Played: 0
Win%: --
Mean% Finish: --
Brandon Cottom - Tribal Council record
Survivor 44  logo  Survivor 44 Tribal

Ep7 Tribal Council

Idols held/played (1/1, 2 votes voided):

  • Survivor 44, Ep. 1: Finds the key to the idol cage during the group search; unlocks the cage, takes the idol (Day 2).
  • Survivor 44, Ep. 1: Plays the idol for himself, voiding 2 votes and saving himself (Day 3).

 

VFB - Votes for the person booted (2/4):

 

VAP - Votes against (4):

  • [Survivor 44, Ep. 1: Two votes, from Kane and Maddy, both voided by Brandon's idol play.]
  • [Survivor 44, Ep. 8: Four votes, from Carolyn, Danny, Frannie, and Heidi (idoled out, [0]-4).

 

Jury votes made (0/0):

  • Survivor 44: None yet.
Career totals - Tribal Council
Hidden idols
Found: 1
Played: 1
Votes voided: 2
Voting record
VFB: 2
Tribals: 4
VAP: 4
Jury votes
Made: 0
For winners: --
Received: --
Brandon Cottom - Pictures
Survivor 44 logo  Survivor 44 image gallery
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Pre-season video shot
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    On the boat, Day 1
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Greeting Probst
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Helping Maddy see, Ep1 RC
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Ratu decides between Sweat and Savvy tasks
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Sweat task completed (barely)
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Day 2 excitement
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Brandon has an idol! (and a fake)
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Listening to Lauren's dilemma story
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Hauling the crate, Ep1 IC
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Taking a break
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Ratu, Ep1 Tribal
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Talking to Probst
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    I saved myself, but Kane voted for me, Ep2
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC/IC
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Ratu wins!
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Ratu eats worms, Ep3
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Digging deep, Ep3 IC
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Ratu wins again!
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 RC
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Ratu has a new tribemate
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Watching the puzzle stage, Ep4 IC
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Ratu doesn't lose
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 IC
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Placing the final ball, with Carson
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Accurate for the new era
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Broing out with Danny. Also in attendance: Carolyn
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Merge-ish time, Ep6
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    The not-merge tribe, chatting
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Purple team wins! Ep6 RC/IC
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Half-merge feasting
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Talking about the new tribe dynamics
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Confirming Kane was the decoy boot
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Not-merge tribe, Ep6 Tribal
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Listening to Carolyn
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Telling Yam Yam and Matt how the Ratu birdcage worked, Ep7
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Still in it, Ep7 RC/IC
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Showdown with Frannie (for reward)
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Brandon wins immunity! (not reward)
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Losing team, back at the old Soka camp
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Losing team, Ep7 Tribal
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Listening to Yam Yam
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    It's night 14, and we've already won this game, Ep8
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Talking about Ratu's great position
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Pre-challenge pairs, Ep8 IC
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Almost through to the final stage, with Kane
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Starting line, final stage
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Sounds like everyone's in to vote Frannie
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Va Va, Ep8 Tribal
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Watching the vote reveal, post-Danny's idol play for Frannie
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Second member of our jury...
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Snuffed, Day 15 (Episode 8)
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    With the jury, Final Tribal
  • Brandon Cottom S44
    Finalists + jury, aftershow
Brandon Cottom - Interviews
Survivor 44 logo  Survivor 44 interviews

Pre-game interviews

  • Mike Bloom at Parade.com (2/1/23): "Former NFL Player Brandon Cottom Gives His Own Take on the 'Meat Shield' Strategy"
  • Rob Cesternino & Mike Bloom at RHAP (2/9/23): "Survivor 44 | Ratu Tribe Castaway Preview"

 

Post-game interviews

  • Dalton Ross at EW.com (4/20/23): "Brandon Cottom blames the Survivor birdcage miscue on 'wet underwear'"
  • Mike Bloom at Parade.com (4/20/23): "Brandon Cottom Reveals a Failed Split Vote Plan that Sealed His Fate"
  • Rob Cesternino at RHAP (4/20/23): "Survivor 44 | Exit Interview with the Second Juror - Ep8"
Brandon Cottom - Bio
Survivor 44  logo  Survivor 44 bio

Official CBS Survivor 44 bio excerpts (January 31, 2023), via Mike Bloom at Parade.com:

"3 Words to Describe You: Easygoing, ambitious, confident

Why do you want to be part of SURVIVOR? I want to be part of SURVIVOR because it is a once in a lifetime adventure. SURVIVOR is the perfect combination of physical and mental strength. I want to challenge myself in an avenue that I really have no experience in. By no means am I a survivalist lol. I have never even been camping, so surviving in the elements will be an exciting challenge.

What’s one life experience you feel has prepared you for the game? Making it into the NFL has prepared me for SURVIVOR. I had to overcome one obstacle after another to make a team. It taught me the importance of hard work and believing in yourself, even when the cards are stacked against you.

Which previous player do you identify with the most? Who do you think you will play most like? I identify with Danny the most. He knows what it is like to play in the NFL and carried a lot of those lessons into the game. I think that I will play the most like Jeremy because of his self-awareness. He knew that he would be a physical threat, so he kept other physically strong survivors around as “meat shields.”

Favorite Hobbies: Coaching at Parisi Speed School, snowboarding, enjoying any lake, cooking, grilling

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? I am most proud of playing for the Seattle Seahawks.

What is something we would never know from looking at you? You would never know that I play the piano. I also do some pretty good magic tricks.

Why will you be the Sole Survivor? I will be the Sole Survivor because I am the perfect combination of physical and mental strength. I am able to fit into any crowd because I have been exposed to so many different backgrounds of people. I will not be denied."


"Meet Brandon" tweet/video (2/9/23):