After four seasons of playing for the Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins, Shaquem Griffin announced his retirement as a professional player to instead join the NFL Legends Community.
“The time has come for me to retire from professional football. It’s time for me to execute my Plan A,” wrote Griffin. “That experience and that invitation from the commissioner locked me in and led me to the decision I had to make.”
Griffin explained that football had always been “Plan B”, and using his college education to make a positive difference in the world was his main goal. Although he enjoyed his time in the NFL, especially being able to play with his brother, he said football was “a bonus.”
Griffin discussed told NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that he wished to join the NFL Legends Community. There, he said he would be able to mentor players, both active and retired, about topics such as ways to support underprivileged communities. He will also travel around to different locations within the United States and give inspirational speeches about “never doubting yourself and tirelessly pursuing your dreams.”
“Football was always Plan B… Plan A was to go to college, get an education and do something that would make a positive impact in the world,” wrote Griffin.
“We started talking about what’s happening on the streets in Chicago and how those communities are suffering. Guys started throwing out ideas on how we could help. How we could maybe improve people’s lives and make a real positive impact… These are the kinds of conversations I want to be a part of.”
Griffin’s career
Griffin is notable for being the only one-handed player to ever be drafted for the NFL. He was not picked for the original scouting combine but he managed to get a 4.38 second time in the 40-yard dash. This is the second-fastest time in the league’s history for players over 225 pounds, outdone only by Matt Jones’ 2005 record of 4.37 seconds. This feat led to his name being called in the fifth round of the Seahawks draft.
“You have to admire the type of success he’s had already with that [hand] impairment. But I think when you look at certain players like that, there is something to be said for what is in their heart…,” said Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim.
He was picked up by the Seahawks in 2018 out of UCF. He then played alongside his twin brother, Shaquill, for three years. Throughout his three years there, he scored 25 combined tackles and one sack. Afterward, he was picked up by the Dolphins but was quickly released after playing on the practice squad for 14 games. He tried out throughout 2022 but felt that something was “missing.”
“All this traveling around, working out for teams, trying to catch on somewhere, trying to hang on — it wasn’t what I wanted… the only thing I still really wanted from the game was to play with my brother again,” Griffin wrote. “So I told my agent, Buddy Baker, thank you for grinding and bringing me these opportunities. But unless it’s Jacksonville, I’m good.”