Former UCF star Shaquem Griffin announces retirement from pro football – Reading Eagle

Ex UCF star midfielder Shaquem Griffin is retiring from professional football, he announced Wednesday in a first-person op-ed published in the Players’ tribune.

Griffin was selected in the 5th round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, where he reunited with his twin brother and former Knight Shaquille Griffin.

“Honestly, it’s still a little surreal,” Griffin said wrote on the Internet. “After everything I’ve been through in my life – all the hard work, all the doubts – it’s almost impossible to imagine that I would leave it and move on from playing football.

“But I know what a positive influence I have on others,” he added. “I speak at colleges and universities, speak to football teams, and even speak to corporate America about never doubting yourself and relentlessly following your dreams. People in companies want to hear what I have to say, when in fact I can learn a lot from them.”

Shaquem, who inspired countless people across the country by overcoming his ability to play the football with one hand, played in 46 career games over three years in Seattle.

At UCF, he led the Knights on defense to an undefeated season in 2017, which ended with a Peach Bowl win over Auburn. In that game, Griffin was named the Defensive MVP after a season-high 12 tackles, a season-high 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

After a recent conversation with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Griffin said he plans to join the NFL Legends Community, a program through which retired players help mentor current and former players on everything from transitioning into and out of the game from her to how to navigate mental health issues.

Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.

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