Shaquem Griffin: An Inspirational Journey from UCF to the NFL and Beyond

Shaquem Griffin's story is one of perseverance, determination, and unwavering belief in oneself. Born with amniotic band syndrome, which led to the amputation of his left hand at the age of four, Griffin defied all odds to become a successful college and professional football player. His journey from the University of Central Florida (UCF) to the National Football League (NFL) is an inspiration to many, proving that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.

Early Life and High School Career

Shaquem Alphonso Griffin was born on July 20, 1995, in St. Petersburg, Florida, less than two minutes after his twin brother, Shaquill. He was born with amniotic band syndrome, a condition that affected the development of his fingers on his left hand. The pain was so intense that at the age of four, he attempted to cut off his hand with a butcher knife. This led to the decision to have his left hand amputated.

Despite this challenge, Griffin excelled in sports. He attended Lakewood High School, where he played safety on the football team. He helped Lakewood reach the 2012 Florida 5A regional semifinals. Griffin 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. He also gained national attention playing for the Under-19 National Team after an interception landed on ESPN's Top 10 Plays.

Griffin was a four-year letter winner in track and field, participating in the 4x100 relay, triple jump, shot put, and discus. After winning the triple jump state title and breaking two Lakewood records, he was named the Tampa Bay Times Track and Field Athlete of the Year in Pinellas County (Florida).

College Career at UCF

Shaquem and his brother Shaquill were both offered football scholarships at the University of Central Florida (UCF) by then-coach George O'Leary. Shaquill turned down offers from other teams, including his dream team, the Miami Hurricanes, to play with Shaquem.

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Griffin spent his entire college career at UCF, totaling 17 sacks and 30 tackles for a loss. In his second season, as a redshirt freshman, he briefly held a second-string position on the depth chart before being demoted. Griffin credited Scott Frost's hiring as head coach for the 2016 and 2017 seasons for his rise in his redshirt junior and redshirt senior seasons.

Writing for The Players' Tribune, Griffin said that, following his 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."

2016 Season

Griffin was named the 2016 American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He played in and started all 13 games at outside linebacker. Griffin led the team with 20.0 tackles for loss, which is tied for the third most in a single season in UCF history. He also led the Knights with 11.5 sacks, the sixth most in a season at UCF. Griffin finished the season ranked 12th in the nation in sacks and 13th in tackles for loss. He totaled 92 tackles and a team high 57 unassisted tackles, adding seven pass break-ups, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and an interception.

2017 Season

Griffin was named the Defensive MVP of the 2018 Peach Bowl. He started 13 games at linebacker, finishing third on the team with 74 tackles, including 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He registered one interception, three pass breakups, and nine quarterback hurries. Griffin recovered two fumbles and forced two fumbles. The UCF Knights were named national champions.

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 inspirational efforts in dealing with life-altering personal situations.

Read also: Griffin's Path to Success

NFL Career

Griffin participated in the NFL Scouting Combine in March 2018. He impressed scouts with his speed and athleticism, recording a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, the fastest time ever recorded by a linebacker at the combine.

Seattle Seahawks

On April 28, 2018, Griffin was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round (141st overall). This selection reunited him with his twin brother, Shaquill, who was already playing cornerback for the Seahawks. Shaquem Griffin became the first one-handed player drafted into the NFL in the modern era.

On August 9, 2018, Griffin made his preseason debut against the Indianapolis Colts, leading his team in tackles with six solo tackles and three assisted tackles. He 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 Mile High Stadium. Griffin finished his rookie season with 11 total tackles in 16 games and one start.

In the 2019 season, Griffin appeared in all 16 games, playing primarily on special teams. In Week 14 against the New York Jets, Griffin recorded a sack on Sam Darnold during the 40-3 win. During the 2020 divisional round of the NFL playoffs, the Seahawks were facing the Green Bay Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Griffin got to Rodgers and took him down for a sack.

In the 2020 season, Griffin had one sack, nine total tackles, and one pass defended in 14 games. He was released by the Seahawks but later re-signed to the practice squad and then promoted to the active roster.

Miami Dolphins

On July 23, 2021, Griffin signed with the Miami Dolphins. However, he was released from the practice squad on August 31, 2021.

Retirement and Beyond

On August 24, 2022, Shaquem Griffin announced his retirement from football. He accepted a position within the NFL's Legends Community, where he helps current and former players with various aspects of their lives, including financial literacy, mental health, and career transition.

Griffin's decision to retire was driven by his desire to help others and make a positive impact on the world. He stated that he wanted to "focus on helping other people," and that he felt he could do more good off the field than on it.

Beyond his work with the NFL Legends Community, Griffin has also become involved with smartARM, a company that develops advanced prosthetic limbs. He uses the smartARM in his daily life and provides feedback to the company to help improve its products. Griffin is also training for track and field events at the Paralympics, including the long jump, 100 meters, and 200 meters.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his career, Shaquem Griffin has received numerous awards and recognition for his achievements both on and off the field. These include:

American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year (2016)
Peach Bowl Defensive MVP (2018)
NCAA Inspiration Award (2019)
United States Achievement Academy Student of Excellence Award
Mr. LHS Award (Lakewood High School)
Mike June Courage Award (2012)
Key to the City of St. Petersburg

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