Former Seahawks linebacker Shaquem Griffin has announced his retirement from the NFL. Griffin broke the news himself in a column for the Player’s Tribune this morning. Griffin was picked by Seattle in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft, joining his brother Shaquill – a third-round selection from the previous year.
Griffin went on to play 46 games for the Seahawks before getting cut prior to the 2020 season. He worked his way back onto the practice squad but only appeared in one game that year. Last season, Griffin worked out for several teams around the league but in the end only wanted to play with his brother on the Jaguars.
“The Dolphins cut me before the 2021 season. I worked out for the Cardinals, the Titans and the Jets, and then I got calls from Buffalo, Dallas and Atlanta. But after that Jets workout, I realized something. All this traveling around, working out for teams, trying to catch on somewhere, trying to hang on — it wasn’t what I wanted. Football had already given me so much, and the only thing I still really wanted from the game was to play with my brother again. So I told my agent, Buddy Baker, thank you for grinding and bringing me these opportunities. But unless it’s Jacksonville, I’m good.”
Griffin says he doesn’t want fans to feel sorry for him and thanked coach Pete Carroll for giving him a chance with the Seahawks, as well as former teammates like Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and his brother.
