Challenges: MPF percentile
99%
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).
| 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
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 challenges 
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.
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
| Wins: | 4 |
| 2nd place: | 3 |
| Played: | 8 |
| Win%: | 0.69 |
| Sat out: | - |
| Wins: | 1 |
| Played: | 2 |
| Win%: | 0.50 |
| Mean% Finish: | 90.0% |
| Wins: | 0 |
| Played: | 0 |
| Win%: | - |
| Mean% Finish: | - |
Brandon Cottom - Tribal Council record
Survivor
44 Tribal 
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):
| Tribal | Voted | Boot (totals) | VFB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep1 | Maddy | Maddy Pomilla (idoled out, [0]-1) | Yes |
| Ep6 | Yam Yam | Josh Wilder (voted out, 7-3-1) | - |
| Ep7 | Matt | Matt Blankinship (voted out, 3-2) | Yes |
| Ep8 | Frannie | Brandon Cottom (idoled out, [0]-4]) | - |
| 4 | TOTALS | 2 | |
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
| Found: | 1 |
| Played: | 1 |
| Votes voided: | 2 |
| VFB: | 2 |
| Tribals: | 4 |
| VAP: | 4 |
| Made: | 0 |
| For winners: | - |
| Received: | - |
Brandon Cottom - Pictures
Survivor
44 image gallery -
Pre-season video shot -
On the boat, Day 1 -
Greeting Probst -
Helping Maddy see, Ep1 RC -
Ratu decides between Sweat and Savvy tasks -
Sweat task completed (barely) -
Day 2 excitement -
Brandon has an idol! (and a fake) -
Listening to Lauren's dilemma story -
Hauling the crate, Ep1 IC -
Taking a break -
Ratu, Ep1 Tribal -
Talking to Probst -
I saved myself, but Kane voted for me, Ep2 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC/IC -
Ratu wins! -
Ratu eats worms, Ep3 -
Digging deep, Ep3 IC -
Ratu wins again! -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 RC -
Ratu has a new tribemate -
Watching the puzzle stage, Ep4 IC -
Ratu doesn't lose -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 IC -
Placing the final ball, with Carson -
Accurate for the new era -
Broing out with Danny. Also in attendance: Carolyn -
Merge-ish time, Ep6 -
The not-merge tribe, chatting -
Purple team wins! Ep6 RC/IC -
Half-merge feasting -
Talking about the new tribe dynamics -
Confirming Kane was the decoy boot -
Not-merge tribe, Ep6 Tribal -
Listening to Carolyn -
Telling Yam Yam and Matt how the Ratu birdcage worked, Ep7 -
Still in it, Ep7 RC/IC -
Showdown with Frannie (for reward) -
Brandon wins immunity! (not reward) -
Losing team, back at the old Soka camp -
Losing team, Ep7 Tribal -
Listening to Yam Yam -
It's night 14, and we've already won this game, Ep8 -
Talking about Ratu's great position -
Pre-challenge pairs, Ep8 IC -
Almost through to the final stage, with Kane -
Starting line, final stage -
Sounds like everyone's in to vote Frannie -
Va Va, Ep8 Tribal -
Watching the vote reveal, post-Danny's idol play for Frannie -
Second member of our jury... -
Snuffed, Day 15 (Episode 8) -
With the jury, Final Tribal -
Finalists + jury, aftershow
Brandon Cottom - Interviews
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 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):
Meet Brandon, a security specialist who considers himself a jack of all trades and hopes to bring positivity to his tribe!🙌🏽 #Survivor pic.twitter.com/kDigHf30mN
— SURVIVOR (@survivorcbs) February 9, 2023