Michael Griffin (American football) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Michael Griffin

Griffin with the Carolina Panthers in 2016
No. 33, 22
Position:	Safety
Personal information
Born:	(1985-01-04) January 4, 1985 (age 40) Austin, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:	Bowie (Austin)
College:	Texas (2003–2006)
NFL Draft:	2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: 19
Career history
Tennessee Titans (2007–2015) Minnesota Vikings (2016)* Carolina Panthers (2016)
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Pro (2010) 2× Pro Bowl (2008, 2010) PFWA All-Rookie Team (2007) BCS national champion (2005) Second-team All-American (2006) First-team All-Big 12 (2006) Second-team All-Big 12 (2005)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 803 Sacks: 7.0 Forced fumbles: 12 Fumble recoveries: 6 Interceptions: 25 Defensive touchdowns: 1
Player stats at PFR

Michael Devin Griffin (born January 4, 1985) is an American former professional football player. He played as a safety for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Michael played college football for the Texas Longhorns. The Tennessee Titans picked him in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft.

Early Life and High School Sports

Michael Griffin grew up in Austin, Texas. He went to Bowie High School. There, he was a star player in football. He played both running back and defensive back.

As a senior, he was named the District 25-5A Offensive MVP. He ran for over 1,100 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. He also caught passes and made tackles on defense. In his last two years at Bowie, he rushed for more than 2,100 yards. He scored 25 touchdowns on the ground.

Besides football, Michael was also good at other sports. He played basketball as a guard and forward. He also competed in track & field, running in sprints. He was very fast, with personal bests of 10.64 seconds in the 100-meter dash. He also ran the 200-meter dash in 22.10 seconds.

Many colleges wanted Michael to play for them. He was considered a top cornerback recruit. In 2002, he decided to play college football for the Texas Longhorns.

College Football Career

Michael Griffin started playing for the University of Texas in Austin in 2003. He was a true freshman, meaning he played in his first year of college. He played in 50 games for the Texas Longhorns. He started 28 of those games.

He made 368 tackles during his college career. This is the eighth-highest in the school's history. He also had 4 sacks and caused 9 fumbles. Michael was known for blocking kicks. He blocked 8 kicks, which is a school record.

In 2005, Michael helped his team win a big championship. He intercepted a pass in the 2006 Rose Bowl game. This helped Texas beat USC and win the national championship. In 2006, he was named a second-team All-American. He also earned first-team All-Big 12 honors.

Professional Football Journey

Michael Griffin was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 2007. He played for them for nine seasons.

Playing for the Tennessee Titans

In his first NFL season in 2007, Michael played safety. He had three interceptions and made 54 tackles.

Michael Griffin playing in the 2009 Pro Bowl

In 2008, his second year, he had a great season. He made 75 tackles and caught 7 interceptions. He even returned one interception for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Because of his excellent play, he was chosen for his first Pro Bowl.

Michael continued to play well for the Titans. In 2009, he had 77 tackles and helped the team finish strong. In 2010, he recorded 108 tackles and 4 interceptions. He was selected for his second Pro Bowl that year. He played all 16 games for four years in a row.

He signed a new contract with the Titans in 2012. That year, he had 79 tackles and 4 interceptions. He played all 16 games for the sixth season in a row. In 2014, he had a career-high 112 tackles and 3 sacks. He played his last season with the Titans in 2015. He was released by the team in February 2016.

Time with Other Teams

After leaving the Titans, Michael signed with the Minnesota Vikings in March 2016. He was later released by them. In September 2016, he signed with the Carolina Panthers. He played 10 games for the Panthers that season.

Retirement from NFL

On May 6, 2018, Michael Griffin officially retired from the NFL. He signed a special one-day contract to retire as a member of the Tennessee Titans.

Flag Football Career

In 2018, after retiring from the NFL, Michael Griffin played flag football. He was part of the Roadrunners team. This team was led by former NFL quarterback Michael Vick.

Career Statistics

Michael Griffin's career statistics show his performance in college and the NFL.

College Statistics

NFL Statistics

Key to NFL Stats:

• GP: Games Played
• COMB: Combined Tackles (total tackles)
• TOTAL: Total Tackles (solo tackles)
• AST: Assisted Tackles
• SACK: Sacks (tackling the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage)
• FF: Forced Fumbles (making an opponent drop the ball)
• FR: Fumble Recoveries (picking up a dropped ball)
• FR YDS: Fumble Return Yards
• INT: Interceptions (catching a pass meant for an opponent)
• IR YDS: Interception Return Yards
• AVG IR: Average Interception Return Yards
• LNG: Longest Interception Return
• TD: Touchdowns (scoring by returning an interception)
• PD: Passes Defended (blocking or deflecting a pass)

Personal Life and Interests

Michael Griffin was a good student in college. He studied youth and community development. He graduated from the University of Texas in 2017.

He has a twin brother named Marcus Griffin. Marcus also played defensive back at the University of Texas. Michael's parents, Ronald and Mae, both retired from the United States Armed Services.

Michael is married to Shantel Spence. They have two daughters, Mya and Mikenzie, and a son, Michael Braylen.

Michael also has a business interest. He co-owns Gigi's Cupcakes in Austin, Texas. He owns it with another former NFL player, Brian Orakpo.

See also

List of Texas Longhorns football All-Americans

Images for kids

• 

  Griffin playing for the Titans in 2013