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Line 24: * [[Miami Dolphins]] ({{NFL Year\|2021}})* \| highlights = * [[Colley Matrix]] national champion ([[2017 UCF Knights football team\|2017]]) * [[American Athletic Conference football individual awards#Defensive Player of the Year\|AAC Defensive Player of the Year]] (2016) * [[2018 Peach Bowl (January)\|Peach Bowl]] Defensive MVP (2018) Line 40 ⟶ 41: }} '''Shaquem Alphonso Griffin''' {{IPAc-en\|ʃ\|ə\|ˈ\|k\|iː\|m}} (born July 20, 1995) is aan American former professional [[American football\|football]] [[linebacker]] who played in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for four seasons. He is the twin brother of [[Minnesota Vikings]] cornerback [[Shaquill Griffin]], and both brothers played [[college football]] at [[UCF Knights football\|UCF]]. When Griffin was 4 years old, he had his left hand [[amputation\|amputated]]; Griffin later received extensive media coverage as a prospective [[2018 NFL ~~Draft~~draft]] pick.<ref name="Stump" /><ref name="McMahan" /><ref name="Kirshner" /> He was selected as a fifth-round pick (141st overall) by the Seahawks on April 28, 2018, reuniting him with Shaquill.<ref name="Shaquem drafted">{{Cite web \|last=Henderson \|first=Brady \|date=April 28, 2018 \|title=One-handed LB Shaquem Griffin drafted by Seahawks, reunited with twin brother Shaquill \|url=~~http~~https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2018/story/_/id/23347129/one-handed-lb-shaquem-griffin-drafted-seattle-seahawks-reunited-twin-brother-shaquill \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> Griffin played with the Seahawks for three seasons before spending part of the 2021 season with the [[Miami Dolphins]]' [[practice squad]]. He retired during the 2022 offseason. ==Early ~~years~~life== Shaquem Alphonso Griffin<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Graddy \|first=Tyler \|date=July 19, 2017 \|title=Shaquem Griffin One-on-One: Life After Football, Book Plans and Living Away from His Brother {{!}} KnightNews.com \|url=http://knightnews.com/2017/07/shaquem-griffin-one-on-one-life-after-football-book-plans-and-living-away-from-his-brother/ \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=KnightNews}}</ref> was born to Terry and Tangie Griffin<ref name="ESPN-Early">{{Cite web \|last=Glock \|first=Allison \|date=July 9, 2013 \|title=NCF: Identical twins have NFL dreams, with only three hands \|url=~~http~~https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/page/bodyissue2013griffins/central-florida-shaquill-shaquem-griffin-three-hands-nfl-dreams-espn-magazine \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> on July 20, 1995, in St. Petersburg Florida, less than two minutes after [[Shaquill Griffin\|Shaquill]].<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Drahold \|first=Bryon \|date=May 2, 2017 \|title=Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin kept promise to twin brother \|url=http://seahawkswire.usatoday.com/2017/05/02/seahawks-cornerback-shaquill-griffin-keeps-promise-to-twin-bother/ \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=Seahawks Wire\|publisher=USA Today}}</ref><ref name="SI-Unstoppable" /> Shaquem was born with [[amniotic band syndrome]] affecting his left hand, causing his fingers on his left hand not to fully develop.<ref name="ESPN-Early" /><ref name="Sentinel-Green">{{Cite web \|last=Green \|first=Shannon \|date=September 8, 2016 \|title=Shaquem, Shaquill Griffin shine for UCF, don't let disability hold them back \|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ucf-knights/os-ucf-football-0909-20160908-story.html \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Adelson \|first=Eric \|date=August 17, 2017 \|title=Is the NFL next for one-handed Shaquem Griffin? \|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-next-one-handed-shaquem-griffin-195159947.html \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=Yahoo! Sports}}</ref> The pain was so intense that at 4 years of age he grabbed a butcher knife, planning to cut the hand off. His mother took the knife away, and his parents scheduled an [[Amputation#arm\|amputation]] the next day.<ref name="ESPN-Early" /><ref name="SI-Unstoppable">{{Cite magazine \|last=Staples \|first=Andy \|date=November 16, 2017 \|title=Shaquem Griffin: UCF's unstoppable one-handed star \|url=https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/11/16/shaquem-griffin-hand-ucf-nfl-draft \|magazine=Sports Illustrated \|access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref> Still, Griffin was able to continue playing sports without his left hand, competing in track, baseball, and football alongside his brother.<ref name="ESPN-Early" /> Born in [[St. Petersburg, Florida]], Griffin attended and played [[high school football]] at [[Lakewood High School (Florida)\|Lakewood]], where he played [[Safety (gridiron football position)\|safety]]. He attended the 2011 [[Under Armour]] Combine. He helped Lakewood reach the 2012 Florida 5A regional semifinals. He earned Second Team 5A All-State and ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'' Second Team All-Suncoast honors. He played in the 2012 Florida Athletic Coaches Association North-South All-Star Game. [[United States men's national American football team\|USA Football]] selected him to the 2013 U.S. Under-19 National Team, playing for whom earned him national attention after an interception by Griffin landed on [[ESPN]]'s Top 10 Plays. He was rated a three-star recruit prospect by both [[Rivals.com\|Rivals]] and ESPN. Line 78 ⟶ 79: Shaquem and his brother Shaquill were both offered football scholarships at the [[University of Central Florida]] (UCF) by then-coach [[George O'Leary]], with Shaquill rejecting offers from other teams including the [[Miami Hurricanes]], his dream team, to play with Shaquem.<ref name="Orr">{{Cite web \|last=Orr \|first=Conor \|date=March 21, 2017 \|title=Shaquill Griffin stuck by his twin; now NFL teams are catching up \|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/shaquill-griffin-stuck-by-his-twin-now-nfl-teams-are-catching-u-0ap3000000794221 \|access-date=April 28, 2018 \|website=NFL.com}}</ref> Griffin spent his whole college career at UCF, totaling 17 [[qb sack\|sack]]s and 30 [[tackles for a loss]]. Notable plays also include an interception versus the [[Temple Owls football\|Temple Owls]]<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Green \|first=Shannon \|date=November 18, 2017 \|title=No. 15 UCF rolls to victory over Temple, improves to 10-0 \|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/os-sp-ucf-temple-football-1119-story.html \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> and a [[fumble]] recovery for a [[touchdown]] versus the [[Austin Peay Governors football\|Austin Peay Governors]],<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Green \|first=Shannon \|date=October 29, 2017 \|title=UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin savors first career touchdown, contributes to record-setting win \|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2017/10/29/ucf-linebacker-shaquem-griffin-savors-first-career-touchdown-contributes-to-record-setting-win/ \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=[[Orlando Sentinel]]}}</ref> both during the 2017 season. In his second season, playing as a [[redshirted\|redshirt]] freshman, Shaquem Griffin had a brief stint as a second-string player on the depth chart before being demoted to third string and then [[Practice squad\|scout team]]. Griffin pointed out that Coach O'Leary often "bullied and belittled me" and Griffin said "he'd threaten me if I was on campus at certain times". Griffin attributes his rise in his redshirt junior and redshirt senior seasons to [[Scott Frost]]'s hiring as head coach for the [[2016 UCF Knights football team\|2016]] and [[2017 UCF Knights football team\|2017 seasons]]. Writing for ''[[The Players' Tribune]]'', Griffin said that, following his [[2015 UCF Knights football team\|winless third season]] under O'Leary, "Coach Frost came in and brought me back into the light... He gave me the opportunity I had been waiting for ever since I first arrived at UCF. And I took advantage of it".<ref>{{cite web \|last=Griffin \|first=Shaquem \|date=March 2, 2018 \|title=A Letter to NFL GMs \|work=[[The Players' Tribune]] \|url=https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/shaquem-griffin-ucf-nfl-draft-letter-to-general-managers \|access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref> Griffin was named was named the 2016 [[American Athletic Conference]] Defensive Player of the Year and the Defensive MVP of the [[2018 Peach Bowl (January)\|2018 Peach Bowl]] <!--Please don't remove. The inclusion of UCF's national championship claim was decided by multiple editors after several weeks of discussion. The nature of the claim is explained and sourced in the body of this article. See the talk page if you want to reopen a discussion on this.-->In Griffin's senior season, UCF went undefeated and subsequently claimed a national championship.{{efn\|name="UCF National Champs"\|The NCAA recognizes the [[2017 Alabama Crimson Tide football team\|Alabama Crimson Tide]] and Griffin's UCF Knights as 2017 national champions, with Alabama listed first. UCF was ranked #1 in the Colley Matrix, while other selectors chose Alabama.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.colleyrankings.com/currank.html\|website=Colley Matrix\|access-date=January 9, 2018\|title=2017 Rankings, Week 17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=Football Bowl Subdivision Records\|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2017/FBS.pdf\|publisher=NCAA\|access-date=January 10, 2018\|page=109}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release\|last1=Seeley\|first1=Andy\|title=Knights Ranked No. 1 – UCF\|url=http://ucfknights.com/news/2018/1/10/football-rankings-update.aspx?path=football\|publisher=UCF Athletics\|date=January 10, 2018\|access-date=January 18, 2018\|archive-date=March 22, 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322032117/http://ucfknights.com/news/2018/1/10/football-rankings-update.aspx?path=football\|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}<!--Please don't remove. The inclusion of UCF's national championship claim was decided by multiple editors after several weeks of discussion. The nature of the claim is explained and sourced in the body of this article. See the talk page if you want to reopen a discussion on this.--> Griffin told Ralph Warner and [[NFL Network]] in November 2017 that he planned to continue his football career in the [[NFL]]. Shaquem stayed at UCF one season longer than Shaquill, as Shaquem redshirted his freshman year while Shaquill saw playing time.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Knight \|first=Joey \|date=August 3, 2017 \|title=Griffin twins go their separate ways on the gridiron for first time \|url=~~http~~https://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/griffin-twins-go-their-separate-ways-on-the-gridiron-for-first-time/2332417/ \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|title=2013 Football Roster: Shaquem Griffin Bio \|url=http://ucfknights.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=577 \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=UCFKnights.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|title=2013 Football Roster: Shaquill Griffin Bio \|url=http://ucfknights.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=277 \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=UCFKnights.com}}</ref> Shaquill graduated and was drafted by the [[Seattle Seahawks]] in the third round (90th overall pick) of the [[2017 NFL ~~Draft~~draft]],<ref name="Shaquill drafted">{{cite web\|title=Seattle Seahawks Select Central Florida Cornerback Shaquill Griffin With No. 90 Overall Pick In 2017 NFL Draft\|url=http://www.seahawks.com/news/2017/04/28/seattle-seahawks-select-central-florida-cornerback-shaquill-griffin-no-90-overall\|author=Yohannes, Aron\|website=Seahawks.com\|date=April 28, 2017\|access-date=April 28, 2018\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503073103/http://www.seahawks.com/news/2017/04/28/seattle-seahawks-select-central-florida-cornerback-shaquill-griffin-no-90-overall\|archive-date=May 3, 2017}}</ref> while Shaquem stayed on for his redshirt senior year at UCF. After the end of his college career, Griffin was named as one of two recipients of the 2019 [[NCAA Inspiration Award]], presented to individuals currently or formerly associated with NCAA athletics for especially inspirational efforts in dealing with life-altering personal situations. He received the award alongside [[Maggie Nichols (gymnast)\|Maggie Nichols]], the first individual to report [[USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal\|having been sexually assaulted]] by [[Larry Nassar]].<ref>{{cite press release\|url=https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/2019-ncaa-inspiration-award-shaquem-griffin \|title=2019 NCAA Inspiration Award: Shaquem Griffin \|publisher=[[National Collegiate Athletic Association\|NCAA]] \|date=December 13, 2018 \|access-date=December 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release\|url=https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/2019-ncaa-inspiration-award-maggie-nichols \|title=2019 NCAA Inspiration Award: Maggie Nichols \|publisher=[[National Collegiate Athletic Association\|NCAA]] \|date=December 13, 2018 \|access-date=December 13, 2018}}</ref> Line 116 ⟶ 117: }} [[File:Griffin brothers (50746801588) (cropped).jpg\|thumb\|right\|Shaquem (right) and [[Shaquill Griffin]] (left) celebrating with [[D. J. Reed]] during a 2020 game at [[FedExField]]]] Despite the fact that he was not projected as a first-round pick, Griffin received an invitation to the [[2018 NFL ~~Draft~~draft]], which he accepted on March 29, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=NFL Draft & Combine Profile – SHAQUEM GRIFFIN \|url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/shaquem-griffin?id=32462018-0002-5600-3553-5235eb2e3419 \|access-date=March 22, 2018 \|website=NFL.com \|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|first=Jeremy\|last=Bergman\|title=Shaquem Griffin plans to attend 2018 NFL Draft in Dallas\|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/shaquem-griffin-plans-to-attend-2018-nfl-draft-in-dallas-0ap3000000923890\|publisher=NFL\|access-date=March 29, 2018}}</ref> Griffin received extensive press and social media coverage leading up to and during the draft, as he would have been the first one-handed player drafted into the NFL if chosen.<ref name="Stump">{{Cite web \|last=Stump \|first=Scott \|date=March 5, 2018 \|title=College football player with one hand looks to make history at NFL draft \|url=https://www.today.com/health/shaquem-griffin-one-hand-wows-nfl-scouts-t124442 \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=[[Today (U.S. TV program)\|Today]]}}</ref><ref name="McMahan">{{Cite web \|last=McMahan \|first=Ian \|date=April 26, 2018 \|title=Shaquem Griffin: can a one-handed college star make it in the NFL? \|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/apr/26/shaquem-griffin-nfl-draft \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref name="Kirshner">{{Cite web \|last=Kirshner \|first=Alex \|date=April 28, 2018 \|title=Shaquem Griffin is already the NFL Draft's best story, no matter where he goes \|url=https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2018/4/26/17287828/shaquem-griffin-nfl-draft-2018-picked-day-3 \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=[[SB Nation]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Middlehurst-Schwartz \|first=Michael \|date=April 28, 2018 \|title=Shaquem Griffin drafted by Seahawks, becomes first one-handed player picked in NFL draft modern era \|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2018/04/28/shaquem-griffin-seattle-seahawks-nfl-draft-pick-history-hand/558751002/ \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=USA TODAY \|language=en-US}}</ref> ===Seattle Seahawks=== On April 28, 2018, he was selected by the [[Seattle Seahawks]] in the fifth round (141st overall), which they acquired along with [[Duane Brown]] in exchange for the [[Martinas Rankin\|80th pick]] in the [[2018 NFL draft]]. reuniting him with his brother Shaquill.<ref name="Shaquem drafted" /><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Teope \|first=Herbie \|date=April 28, 2018 \|title=Shaquem Griffin drafted No. 141 overall by Seahawks \|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/shaquem-griffin-drafted-no-141-overall-by-seahawks-0ap3000000929853 \|access-date=May 6, 2018 \|website=NFL.com}}</ref> On May 17, 2018, Griffin signed a four-year deal worth $2.8 million with $300,000 guaranteed.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Bergman \|first=Jeremy \|date=May 17, 2018 \|title=Seahawks sign fifth-round linebacker Shaquem Griffin \|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/seahawks-sign-fifth-round-linebacker-shaquem-griffin-0ap3000000933280 \|access-date=May 17, 2018 \|website=NFL.com}}</ref> On August 9, 2018, Griffin made his preseason debut against the [[Indianapolis Colts]] in [[CenturyLink Field]], leading his team in [[tackled gridiron\|tackles]] with six solo tackles and three assisted tackles. On August 30, 2018, he again led the team in tackles with four solo and three assisted tackles in the final week of the preseason against the [[Oakland Raiders]]. Griffin led the Seahawks in total tackles for the entire 2018 NFL preseason with fifteen, tied with fellow linebacker [[Austin Calitro]]. On September 9, 2018, Griffin was named as a starter in the first game of his NFL career due to veteran linebacker [[K. J. Wright]] being unable to play. He made three solo tackles in the 27–24 loss to the [[Denver Broncos]] at [[Broncos Stadium at Mile High\|Mile High Stadium]].<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos - September 9th, 2018 \|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201809090den.htm \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com \|language=en}}</ref> He finished his rookie season with 11 total tackles in 16 games and one start. He was a contributor on [[special teams]] throughout his rookie season.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Shaquem Griffin 2018 Game Log \|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrifSh01/gamelog/2018/ \|access-date=August 11, 2023 \|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com \|language=en}}</ref> Line 133 ⟶ 134: ===Retirement=== On August 24, 2022, Griffin published an article in ''[[The Players' Tribune]]'' announcing his retirement from football after four seasons to join the NFL Legends Community, a community of former players offering mentoring services to current and former players.<ref name="Plan A">{{cite web \|last1=Griffin \|first1=Shaquem \|title=Plan A \|url=https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/shaquem-griffin-nfl-football-retirement \|website=The Players' Tribune \|access-date=August 24, 2022 \|date=August 24, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|last1=Edholm \|first1=Eric \|title=Shaquem Griffin announces retirement from football, accepts position within NFL's Legends Community \|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/shaquem-griffin-announces-retirement-from-football-accepts-position-within-nfl-s \|website=NFL.com \|access-date=August 19, 2023 \|date=August 24, 2022}}</ref> == Personal life == Line 150 ⟶ 151: ==External links== {{Commons category}} {{footballstats\|pfr=GrifSh01\|espn=3054029\|yahoo=31111}} * [http://ucfknights.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5519 UCF Knights bio] Line 170 ⟶ 171: [[Category:American twins]] [[Category:UCF Knights football players]] [[Category:21st-century African-American ~~sportspeople~~sportsmen]]