Shaquem Griffin

Fancy hotel? Brunch? If you're reading this, you probably already know my story. ...

For allowing me to be vulnerable and giving me the courage to believe in myself. At UCF, when they invited you to stay and work out and sent me home for the summer and I was working two jobs towing cars and cleaning offices at the Chevy dealership, you called me every day to make sure I was still working out and keeping my mind right. People at companies want to hear what I have to say when actually I’m the one that can learn so much from them. I look around the room and see all these vets — these old-school Legends who’ve been around forever — and I’m thinking, Man, I’m 27. I went down to the practice squad, worked my way back to the active roster, and went back and forth between the two for a while. I’m sitting at that fancy hotel having brunch with the commissioner and he’s telling me he’d love to have me as part of the Legends Program. I like helping people, and I’ve been blessed to have Shaquill and my family, who have always had my back, and coaches and mentors who I could lean on when I had to. And going to a lot of his events in Seattle and seeing how he goes about reaching others, I could really see myself doing the same thing. Growing up, all through college and ever since I’ve been in the league, people have always told me how inspirational I was — just my story of persistence and achieving something I’d set out to do, even when people told me I couldn’t do it. Then, after the 2020 season, my brother signed with the Jaguars, and I joined the Dolphins down in Miami. And after talking with my brother, I realized that it doesn’t matter what people think about me at all. So, I’m at a brunch at this fancy hotel in Los Angeles during Super Bowl week having a conversation with Roger Goodell, and that’s where I have to stop the story before I even get into it and say …

Writing for The Players' Tribune, the former UCF standout revealed that he drew interest from a half-dozen teams after a 2021 offseason stint with the Dolphins, ...

[Cardinals](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/ARI/arizona-cardinals/), the [Titans](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/TEN/tennessee-titans/) and the [Jets](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/NYJ/new-york-jets/), and then I got calls from Buffalo, Dallas and Atlanta," Griffin wrote for The Players' Tribune. [Jaguars](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/JAC/jacksonville-jaguars/) cornerback [Shaquill Griffin](/nfl/players/2081099/shaquill-griffin/), was born with a rare birth defect preventing the fingers on his left hand from fully developing. The program is designed for retired players to mentor current and former players on transitioning out of the game, and into the community. Writing for The Players' Tribune, the former UCF standout revealed that he drew interest from a half-dozen teams after a 2021 offseason stint with the [Dolphins](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/MIA/miami-dolphins/), but ultimately decided to step away from the game to join the [NFL](/nfl) Legends Community, a mentorship program. After Shaquill signed with the Jaguars in 2021 free agency, Griffin also departed, signing a one-year deal with the Dolphins. He was released as part of final cuts, however, and spent half the year on Miami's practice squad.

The inspirational former linebacker opened up about what he plans on doing next.

Over his three-year career, he tallied 25 tackles and one sack before getting cut in 2020. The former Seahawks and Dolphins linebacker made waves in college football and the NFL as an amputee without a right hand. While in Seattle, Shaquem Griffin appeared in 48 games and started one of them when KJ Wright went down with an injury.

After four seasons in the NFL, Seahawks Legend Shaquem Griffin is hanging up his cleats to join the NFL Legends Community.

In three seasons with the Seahawks and his brother, Shaquem participated in 46 games and registered a sack. "I'm sitting at that fancy hotel having brunch with the commissioner and he's telling me he'd love to have me as part of the Legends Program. That October, Shaquem was cut after battling to make it on the active roster. In 2013, Griffin was selected to play for the U.S. It's a resource to provide guidance and support to players in whatever they might be going through or trying to achieve, including assisting with community service initiatives. Petersburg, FL, they were treated equally, and Shaquem adapted to life without a limb with the help of his parents and most-importantly - his brother. At UCF, when they invited you to stay and work out and sent me home for the summer and I was working two jobs towing cars and cleaning offices at the Chevy dealership, you called me every day to make sure I was still working out and keeping my mind right. It started with their father Terry teaching Shaquem and Shaquill to do everything equally despite the handicap - from throwing a football to lifting weights. But Shaquem would carve out his own legacy on both the football field and the track. At 4, the pain was too much, and Shaquem attempted to use a kitchen knife to cut off his own hand. In 2011, Griffin was selected for the Under Armour Combine. Shaquem came out of the womb suffering from amniotic band syndrome on his left hand.

Linebacker Shaquem Griffin announced his retirement from the NFL Wednesday in a self-written account published in the Players Tribune.

He said he came to the decision when attending a meeting with NFL legends and commissioner Roger Goodell during Super Bowl week this year. Griffin and his brother, Shaquil, played for the Seahawks from 2018 to 2020. “As kids we had dreamed of playing together in the NFL, but whenever we talked about it, our dad would remind us that if we made it to the league — especially if we got to play together — that would be an added blessing.

Shaquem Griffin did it all over the course of his football career. The former Seahawks linebacker overcame getting his left hand amputated at age four to ...

Football had already given me so much, and the only thing I still really wanted from the game was to play with my brother again. In 2020, that dream was forever altered; Griffin was released by the Seahawks. Petersburg, I was happy to be back in Florida. But Griffin was ready to let go. I’m sitting at that fancy hotel having brunch with the commissioner and he’s telling me he’d love to have me as part of the Legends Program. Griffin didn't see much time on the field during his tenure with the 'Hawks, but taking the field with his brother was his oasis, the fulfillment of the twins' childhood dream. I look around the room and see all these vets — these old-school Legends who’ve been around forever — and I’m thinking, Man, I’m 27. He made history as the first one-handed player drafted in the modern era of the NFL. Griffin spent his first three seasons in Seattle, playing with identical twin Shaquill. Griffin is a pioneer. The former Seahawks linebacker overcame getting his left hand amputated at age four to become an All-American at UCF. That career is coming to an end, though.

Shaquem Griffin defied considerable odds by becoming a Central Florida standout and NFL regular, forging a football path despite losing his left hand at the ...

[Shaquem Griffin](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrifSh01.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) played mostly on special teams. [Follow @PFRumors](https://twitter.com/PFRumors) Shaquem, who played with his brother for four seasons at Central Florida and three with the Seahawks, added a sack on [Aaron Rodgers](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RodgAa00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) in Seattle’s 2019 divisional-round game. [The inspirational linebacker, however, announced Wednesday (](https://cdn.profootballrumors.com/files/2021/07/USATSI_15396279.jpg) [via The Players’ Tribune](https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/shaquem-griffin-nfl-football-retirement)) he will retire rather than pursue a fifth NFL season. Griffin spent the early part of last season on Miami’s taxi squad and worked out for the Cardinals, Titans and Jets. [Shaquem Griffin](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrifSh01.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) defied considerable odds by becoming a Central Florida standout and NFL regular, forging a football path despite losing his left hand at the age of 4.

RENTON — Shaquem Griffin, whose drafting by the Seahawks in 2018 to be reunited with his twin brother Shaquill provided one of the more heartwarming moments ...

and all the teammates who have believed in me and mentored me. Griffin also thanked the Seahawks, including for letting Shaquill Griffin skip a practice to stay with him in 2020 after he had been cut, saying he’d like to thank “Coach (Pete) Carroll and the entire staff for being great coaches and even better men (and for not fining Shaquill when he skipped practice to stay with me at the lake house — that speaks volumes)” as well as “Bobby (Wagner), K.J. 141 overall, a year after Shaquill was taken in the third round, each having played at the University of Central Florida. As kids we had dreamed of playing together in the NFL, but whenever we talked about it, our dad would remind us that if we made it to the league — especially if we got to play together — that would be an added blessing. Plan A was to go to college, get an education and do something that would make a positive impact in the world.” “My dad used to tell me and my brother that.

The 27-year-old became the first one-handed player drafted in the modern era of the National Football League when the Seahawks selected him in 2018.

"We started talking about what’s happening on the streets in Chicago and how those communities are suffering. "Plan A was to go to college, get an education and do something that would make a positive impact in the world." "Football had already given me so much, and the only thing I still really wanted from the game was to play with my brother again. "I’m gonna go build something new so I can do what Dad always told us to do: leave the world a better place than when we found it. Then, the conversation shifted," Griffin said. Shaquem joined the Miami Dolphins in July 2021 but failed to crack the 53-man roster, spending some time on the practice squad before his release.

Former Seattle Seahawks linebacker Shaquem Griffin -- who the NFL called "a true inspiration" -- officially announced his retirement from the NFL on ...

Congrats on your retirement, @Shaquemgriffin." As kids we had dreamed of playing together in the NFL, but whenever we talked about it, our dad would remind us that if we made it to the league -- especially if we got to play together -- that would be an added blessing. It's crazy," he added. I know the positive effect I'm having on others. "It's time for me to execute my Plan A. "Honestly, it's still a little surreal.