Former UCF star Shaquem Griffin has been an inspirational story to many throughout his NFL career after being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks despite playing with a rare birth defect that left him with one hand. On Wednesday, he revealed that his time in the NFL is over and that it is now time for him to execute “Plan A”.
Griffin announced his retirement from the NFL in an article in The Players Tribune. The former UCF star said that football was always Plan B in his life.
“Honestly, it’s still a little surreal. After everything I’ve been through in my life,” said Griffin. “All the hard work, all the doubters — it’s almost unthinkable that I’m hangin’ it up and moving on from the game of football.
“But I know the positive effect I’m having on others. I’m speaking at colleges and universities, talking to football teams and even presenting to corporate America about never doubting yourself and tirelessly pursuing your dreams. People at companies want to hear what I have to say when actually I’m the one that can learn so much from them. It’s crazy.”
Griffin went on to thank a number of people that have helped him throughout his long football journey, including former UCF head coach Scott Frost, the Seattle Seahawks organization, and his brother Shaquill Griffin among many others.
He has seen his career tail off in recent years since the Seahawks released him in 2020. Griffin did not play last season after being cut by the Miami Dolphins before the 2021 season.
Griffin detailed that his career was not the same once he was separated from his brother Shaquill, and he will now move on to the next stage of his life outside of football.
Shaquem has been an inspiration to many for overcoming the challenges of his rare birth defect, and he will now inspire many others outside of football by speaking to colleges across the country.
