LB Shaquem Griffin Announces Retirement
Shaquem Griffin defied considerable odds by becoming a Central Florida standout and NFL regular, forging a football path despite losing his left hand at the age of 4. The 2018 fifth-round pick played three seasons with the Seahawks and spent time on the Dolphins’ practice squad.
The inspirational linebacker, however, announced Wednesday (via The Players’ Tribune) he will retire rather than pursue a fifth NFL season. The twin brother of Jaguars cornerback Shaquill Griffin, Shaquem said he aimed to catch on with the Jags last year — one featuring a few opportunities elsewhere — but after that did not materialize, he began moving toward leaving the game.
“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,” Griffin said. “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 spent the early part of last season on Miami’s taxi squad and worked out for the Cardinals, Titans and Jets. The Bills, Cowboys and Falcons also expressed interest, Griffin said, and he participated in the Broncos’ 2021 minicamp. But after the Dolphins released him from their practice squad in October, the St. Petersburg, Fla., native passed on offers that did not come from the Jags. Jacksonville signed Shaquill Griffin in March 2021, separating the twin brothers after they had played three seasons in Seattle.
For his career, Shaquem Griffin played mostly on special teams. He made 25 tackles with the Seahawks, who drafted him ahead of Shaquill’s second season. Shaquem notched 18.5 sacks over his final two college seasons and helped Central Florida finish the 2017 campaign at 13-0. He tallied one NFL sack, doing so after working his way back onto Seattle’s active roster following a September cut. Shaquem, who played with his brother for four seasons at Central Florida and three with the Seahawks, added a sack on Aaron Rodgers in Seattle’s 2019 divisional-round game.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/19/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DE Josh Mauro
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Joe Thomas
- Released: LB Chris Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: RB Reggie Bonnafon
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB Chris Thompson
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: CB Isaiah Johnson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Aaron Adeoye
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Connor Strachan
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: S Jordan Lucas, CB Marvell Tell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Shilique Calhoun
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Vince Biegel
- Released: LB Shaquem Griffin
New England Patriots
- Signed: K Riley Patterson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Lakiem Williams
New York Giants
- Signed: G Derrick Kelly, WR Travis Toivonen
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Jaydon Mickens
Washington Football Team
- Signed: K Chris Blewitt, LB De’Jon Harris
- Released: WR Kelvin Harman, CB Cole Luke
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC East
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bills, Dolphins, Jets and Patriots moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s AFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Buffalo Bills
Signed:
Placed on IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- G Jack Anderson, DT Brandin Bryant, G Jamil Douglas, QB Jake Fromm, WR Tanner Gentry, LB Joe Giles-Harris, CB Ojaijah Griffin, WR Isaiah Hodgins, CB Cam Lewis, DE Mike Love, TE Quintin Morris, S Josh Thomas, QB Davis Webb, CB Rachad Wildgoose, RB Antonio Williams
Miami Dolphins
Claimed:
- DB Elijah Campbell (from Jets)
Waived:
- CB Jamal Perry
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Shaquem Griffin, QB Reid Sinnett
New England Patriots
Claimed:
- WR Malcolm Perry (from Dolphins)
Waived:
- LB Harvey Langi
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Tashaun Bower, DB Myles Bryant, C James Ferentz, K Nick Folk, QB Garrett Gilbert, QB Brian Hoyer, TE Matt LaCosse, FB Ben Mason, DT Bill Murray, WR Tre Nixon, OL Alex Redmond, CB D’Angelo Ross, G William Sherman, WR Kristian Wilkerson
New York Jets
Claimed:
- DE Tim Ward (from Chiefs)
Re-signed:
- TE Dan Brown, TE Ryan Griffin, S Sharrod Neasman
Waived:
- CB Bless Austin, DE Jabari Zuniga
Placed on IR:
- S Ashtyn Davis, LB Jarrad Davis, OL Conor McDermott
Dolphins Set Initial 53-Man Roster
The Dolphins have joined the club of teams to officially get down to 53 players on cutdown day. Here’s the list of of players from Miami that will be looking for new homes in the coming days:
Placed on season-ending IR:
Released:
- LB Josh Harvey-Clemons
- CB Cre’von LeBlanc
- OT Adam Pankey
- C Cameron Tom
Waived:
- CB Javaris Davis
- RB Gerrid Doaks
- CB Tino Ellis
- LB Shaquem Griffin
- LB Kylan Johnson
- DT Benito Jones
- RB Patrick Laird
- DE Jonathan Ledbetter
- WR Kai Locksley
- WR Kirk Merritt
- LB Calvin Munson
- TE Chris Myarick
- WR Malcolm Perry
- OG Durval Queiroz Neto
- RB Jordan Scarlett
- QB Reid Sinnett
- DE Jason Strowbridge
There are some reasonably big names on this list, including LeBlanc and Harvey-Clemons among the vested veterans getting outright released. LeBlanc played a sizable role in the Eagles’ secondary last season, and started nine games for the Bears as a rookie back in 2016. Harvey-Clemons was a decent-sized part of Washington’s defense in 2018, but his role was reduced in 2019 before he opted out of the 2020 seasons.
You’ll likely recognize some of the waiver cuts as well, including Griffin. The brother of star cornerback Shaquill Griffin, the linebacker was attempting to make the team after a few years with the Seahawks. Laird started four games for the Dolphins in 2019 and received 62 carries that year, but he was mainly a special teams guy last season.
Dolphins To Sign Shaquem Griffin
Well, that was fast. Shortly after meeting with the Dolphins on Monday morning, linebacker Shaquem Griffin agreed to terms on a one-year deal. Now, the former Seahawks ‘backer will get ready for training camp in South Beach and push to make the final cut. (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).
The Seahawks mostly deployed Griffin on special teams with occasional work as a traditional linebacker. Earlier this year, Griffin told teams that he was training to play as an edge rusher. The Dolphins’ plans for him aren’t immediately clear. However, if he’s able to offer pass rushing help in addition to his already solid special teams play, he’ll make an intriguing addition to Brian Flores‘ depth chart.
For his career, Griffin has 25 tackles, one sack, and one pass defensed across 46 games. He’ll look to build on that with the Dolphins, where he’ll be driving distance from his twin brother Shaquill Griffin.
Shaquem Griffin Visits Dolphins
The Dolphins will host linebacker Shaquem Griffin on a visit today (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). Griffin, 26, has spent the last three years with the Seahawks but remains available on the verge of training camp. 
Griffin recently spent some time in Denver but left without a deal. For what it’s worth, Broncos coaches were reportedly impressed with his on-field work. The door may still be open there, but the Dolphins could snag him first.
Griffin has mostly played as a special teamer, or an on-ball linebacker when on defense. This year, he’s hoping to transition into a full-time pass-rusher. He’s suited up for a total of 46 games for the Seahawks across three seasons with one start. All in all, he’s notched 25 total tackles, one sack, and one pass defensed.
Both Griffin brothers played their entire pro careers with the Seahawks, up until now with the Seahawks. Earlier this year, twin brother Shaquill landed a big deal from Jacksonville to bolster their cornerback group.
Broncos Won’t Sign Shaquem Griffin
Shaquem Griffin will have to wait a little longer to find a new home. The inspirational linebacker who lost one hand at the age of four recently received an invitation to Broncos minicamp as a tryout player.
Griffin spent the past few days in Denver, but the team will not be signing him at this time, Mike Klis of Denver 9 News tweets. Klis does note that Broncos “coaches/front office were impressed with his minicamp work,” so perhaps he could still be signed down the line.
We heard back in May that multiple teams had expressed interest in signing the twin brother of Jaguars cornerback Shaquill Griffin, but nothing materialized. Both Griffin brothers have played their entire pro careers up until now with the Seahawks. Shaquill landed a big deal from Jacksonville earlier this offseason.
Shaquem mostly played as a special teamer, or regular linebacker when on defense, with the Seahawks. But it was also reported earlier this offseason that he was looking to transition into a full-time pass-rusher.
Broncos Audition Shaquem Griffin
Shaquem Griffin will audition for the Broncos’ during their minicamp this week (Twitter link via Mike Klis of 9News). Griffin has reportedly drawn interest from multiple teams this offseason, but this marks his first known tryout. 
Griffin, the twin brother of cornerback Shaquill Griffin, has been one of the NFL’s most inspiring stories. Despite losing his left hand at the age of 4, he earned first-team all-American Athletic Conference at Central Florida. Then, he heard his name called in 2018 when the Seahawks drafted him in the fifth round.
Griffin has spent most of his career as a special teamer with some time as a true linebacker. Now, he’s hoping to transition to a full-time edge rusher. He’s suited up for a total of 46 games for the Seahawks across three seasons with one start — against the Broncos in the 2018 season opener. All in all, he’s notched 25 total tackles, one sack, and one pass defensed.
Shaquem Griffin Drawing Interest From Multiple Teams
Multiple teams have expressed interest in signing free agent Shaquem Griffin (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). Although he’s spent much of his career as a true linebacker, Pelissero hears that he could transition to a full-time edge rusher.
Griffin has suited up for 46 games over three seasons with the Seahawks. Serving mostly as a special teamer, he’s compiled 25 total tackles, one sack, and one pass defensed over the course of his career. The twin brother of cornerback Shaquill Griffin, Shaquem has managed a solid career of his own, despite playing with one hand.
In his final year at Central Florida, Griffin finished as a first-team all-American Athletic Conference selection with 74 tackles (13.5 for loss), a team-high seven sacks, one interception, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/16/21
Tomorrow is the deadline for NFL teams to extend tender offers to their own restricted free agents and exclusive rights free agents. We’ll keep tabs on the latest here:
RFAs
Tendered:
- Chiefs: G Andrew Wylie
- Colts: S George Odum
- Cowboys: DT Antwaun Woods
- Dolphins: OL Adam Pankey
- Packers: CB Chandon Sullivan, TE Robert Tonyan (second-round tender)
- Raiders: K Daniel Carlson (second-round tender)
- Texans: DT P.J. Hall, CB A.J. Moore
Non-Tendered:
- Packers: DL Tyler Lancaster
- Seahawks: LB Shaquem Griffin
- Vikings: RB Mike Boone, DL Ifeadi Odenigbo