Michael Griffin (b. 1985)
Birthplace:
Austin, Texas, USA
Born:
January 4, 1985
Two-time Pro-Bowler Michael Griffin’s stellar professional football career spanned 10 seasons in the NFL, including stints with the Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, and the Carolina Panthers. Since retiring in 2018, Griffin’s focus has shifted to entrepreneurship, opening up a subsidiary bakery under the Gigi’s Cupcakes franchise outside of his hometown of Austin, Texas with his life-long friends, fellow NFL standout Brian Orakpo and college classmate Bryan Hynson. Griffin’s dynamic football career can be traced back to his early days as a star athlete at Bowie High School, where he was a two-year starter at running back and also started at defensive back as a senior. He earned numerous accolades at Bowie including honorable mention All-State Class 5A honors on offense and was named Academic All-District and All-Central Texas as a two-way performer in the same year. Griffin also received the District 25-5A Offensive MVP and earned All-District honors as a junior. In addition to football, in high school Griffin also earned two letters in basketball as a guard and forward, and three in track & field, competing in the sprints and mile relays. He also qualified for the Regional track and field meet. Regarded as a four-star recruit, Griffin was the 9th-ranked cornerback recruit in the nation and the 60th player overall in his 2003 class. Griffin joined the Longhorns at the University of Texas in 2003 as a true freshman. His college career began strong making a remarkable eight blocked kicks that set a school career record and ranked second in NCAA Division 1-A history. As a senior in 2006, Griffin earned second-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 accolades. Griffin was an honors student in college majoring in youth and community studies before getting drafted as the 19th pick overall in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Titans. He later received his degree from the University of Texas’ College of Education in May 2017. Griffin had an incredible 9 seasons with the Tennessee Titans where he made two Pro-Bowls, was a Second-Team All-Pro, and was noted as the franchise’s all-time leader in tackles by a safety with 912. Griffin briefly played for the Minnesota Vikings and the Carolina Panthers before retiring on May 6, 2018, when he signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Tennessee Titans. Griffin’s magnetic dexterity has served him well throughout the years as a football player, entrepreneur, and most recently the star of a hit Microsoft commercial with his friend and former Titan teammate Brian Orakpo. Griffin resides in Austin, Texas with his wife Shantel and their three children.