Linebacker Shaquem Griffin has announced his retirement from the NFL after four seasons. Griffin, who had his left hand amputated at four years old due to amniotic band syndrome, wrote an article for The Players’ Tribune which detailed how he came to his decision to retire. Said Griffin: “It’s time for me to execute my Plan A,” adding that Plan A was always “to go to college, get an education and do something that would make a positive impact in the world.” Griffin added that “football was always Plan B.”
Griffin shared that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell approached him with an opportunity to work with the Legends Program, which is a group made up of retired players to help mentor current and former players in all areas of NFL life, from the beginning to the end of their careers and beyond.
Griffin has defied the odds throughout his football career, first at the University of Central Florida where he played alongside his twin brother, Shaquill, a cornerback who plays with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Shaquem racked up 195 tackles and 18.5 sacks in his five seasons with UCF. While Shaquill was taken by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2018 draft, Shaquem waited two more rounds before Seattle decided to take him with the 141st overall pick.
Shaquem played three seasons with the Seahawks, totaling 25 tackles in 46 games in a limited role. He signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2021 but was waived as a part of training camp roster cuts and re-signed with their practice squad. Shaquem had been in training camp with the Dolphins before announcing his retirement.
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