About
www.robertgriffith.orgBuilding a legacy is no small task even for the most accomplished individuals. Robert Griffith’s quest to the NFL has been both unconventional and rocky at times but with hard word, gritty determination and perseverance he has made his peers stand up and take notice.
Griffith, a 6’0” 200lb hard hitting All-Pro safety earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from San Diego State University in 1994. “It’s always been a dream for me to play in the NFL,” says Griffith. While most college football players usually enter the prestigious ranks of the NFL via the draft, Griffith was not selected by any team. His ‘never say die’ attitude always seems to put him in the ‘right place at the right time’ so in 1994, after a brief stint in the Canadian Football League, he was summons by the Minnesota Vikings.
Praised for his exceptional hitting ability, Minnesota rewarded Griffith’s hard work with a starting lineup position as a strong safety. In 1998, Griffith was selected to the John Madden All-Pro Team as well as being selected as first alternate to the Pro Bowl team.
Although Griffith has had great success with the Vikings, in 2002 he became a free agent and signed with the Cleveland Browns. “I was very excited to have the opportunity to play for the Browns. They were doing the same things defensively that I’ve done for the last eight years, it was like putting on an old shoe,” explains Griffith. By signing with the Browns, Griffith was reunited with his old defensive coordinator, Foge Fazio who was once the defensive coordinator for the Vikings.
This past off-season, Griffith was again reunited with a Vikings coach, Dennis Green, now with the Arizona Cardinals. Griffith, credits Coach Green with giving him the opportunity to realize one of his childhood dreams of playing in the NFL. He drafted the unsigned hardworking safety when no one else was interested and helped develop him into the marquee player he is today.
Throughout his career, Griffith has consistently led his team in tackles, with an average of at least 100 per year. The only year he did not accomplish this feat was in 2001, when he missed six games with a broken leg. He begins the 2005 season with 1122 tackles to his credit.
In the off-season, Griffith engages in the martial art form, Tae-Kwon-Do, which he says provides physical, mental and spiritual conditioning. He also enjoys traveling and modeling. Griffith has graced the pages of Details, Rolling Stones and VIBE magazines in fashion layouts, the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated for Women and the cover of Heart and Soul’s June 2000 issue.
This eligible bachelor has been listed as one of Ebony Magazine’s “Top Bachelors”, Upscale Magazine’s “Top Sexiest Athletes”, and Honey Magazine’s “Hottest Honey for the Holidays.”
Griffith is also making his presence felt in the entertainment industry. He recently turned up in Genoa City where he made his acting debut on CBS’ #1 rated daytime soap, “The Young & The Restless.” This is not all that surprising considering that he enjoys acting and is a fan of the show. “It was a lot of fun. I got an opportunity to appear in a scene with Peter Bergman who plays ‘Jack Abbott’. I watch the show all the time, so to see and have a chance to act with someone you watch was really fun,” laughs Griffith. He also appeared in Def Jam’s recording artist Kelly Price’s music video, “As We Lay” alongside actress Vivica Fox, which increased his female fan quota by 100%. As far as his commercial credits, he has appeared in regional commercial campaigns with Sun Country Airlines, Sprint, Giant Grocery chain, Applebee’s, and a milk moustache campaign with the Dairy Farmers Association.
Griffith hopes to make the transition from football to commentating in a few years and did a stint covering games for NFL Europe during his 2003 off-season. And hosted an ESPN show entitled “Game Night” in 2004.
If his time wasn’t already well spent, Griffith makes time to give back to the community. In 1998, he established the Robert Griffith Foundation, which provides scholarships for deserving high school seniors. He has raised more than $150,000 in scholarship monies and currently has 25 scholarship recipients in college.
Griffith’s community efforts have not gone unnoticed. He has earned honorable mentions for the NFLPA’s Unsung Hero Award, NFL’s Ed Block Courage Award, NFL Special Effort Award, Minnesota Vikings Community Man of the Year Award and nominated for the Byron “Whizzer” White Humanitarian Award (the NFLPA most prestigious award). “The foundation allows me to share my successes and dreams with young people while making a contribution to the communities that supported and encouraged me.”
Robert Griffith, a man with a purpose and a vision whose unfailing commitment to hard work has been his key to success.
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