1. Everson Griffen was born on December 22,1987 and is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League.
50 Facts About Everson Griffen
1. 2.
Everson Griffen was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft and played for them for 10 seasons before signing with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.
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Everson Griffen was traded to the Detroit Lions later that year, then re-signed with the Vikings in August 2021.
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Everson Griffen attended Agua Fria High School in Avondale, Arizona, the same high school as Vikings Hall of Famer Randall McDaniel.
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At Agua Fria, Everson Griffen played as a defensive lineman and running back for the Owls high school football team.
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Everson Griffen recorded top throws of 17.67 meters in the shot put and 55.11 meters in the discus.
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Everson Griffen had an impressive showing as a first-year true freshman backup defensive end in 2007, playing primarily in pass rushing situations.
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Everson Griffen became the first USC true freshman to start an opener on the defensive line in 21 seasons since Tim Ryan in 1986 against Illinois and the first true freshman to start on the defensive line since Shaun Cody did so in 2001 against Utah.
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Everson Griffen appeared in all 12 games and started the first three games for the Trojans, compiling 18 tackles, including 6 for losses of 43 yards.
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Everson Griffen had three tackles against Oregon State and California and two tackles against Virginia, Ohio State, Oregon and Stanford.
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At the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine, Everson Griffen put on a show, running an electronic-timed 4.66 in the 40-yard dash and bench-pressing 225 lbs 32 times.
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Everson Griffen was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the second pick in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft, becoming the 100th player selected overall.
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On January 28,2011, Everson Griffen was arrested in Los Angeles for public intoxication.
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Everson Griffen then tried to flee on foot only to be tased.
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On October 11,2012, Everson Griffen was given an indefinite leave from the team after his mother died.
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In week 15 against the St Louis Rams, Everson Griffen scored his first career touchdown on his first career interception, taking to the house a Sam Bradford pass 29 yards for the score in a key victory for the Vikings' playoff chances.
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Everson Griffen had a tackle and a sack in his playoff debut at Green Bay in the Wild Card Round.
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In 2013, Everson Griffen was used all over the defensive line, playing in all 16 games with no starts.
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Everson Griffen finished the 2013 season with 5.5 sacks, including 2.5 in the final two games of the regular season.
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Everson Griffen recorded a season-best six tackles and tied a career-high with 3 tackles for loss in a loss against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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Everson Griffen ended the season with 27 tackles, 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
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On March 9,2014, Everson Griffen re-signed with the Vikings on a five-year contract worth $42.5 million, including $20 million guaranteed.
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Everson Griffen enjoyed a breakout season in his first year as a full-time starter, helping the Vikings revamped defense have the most improved defense in the NFL.
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Everson Griffen started all 16 games after entering the season with one start in his first four seasons with the Vikings.
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In Week 13 against the Carolina Panthers, Everson Griffen returned a Jasper Brinkley blocked punt for 43 yards for a touchdown, making it the longest blocked punt returned by a Vikings player in franchise history.
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Everson Griffen ended his breakout season with 57 combined tackles, one forced fumble, one blocked punt for a touchdown, three passes defensed, and a career-best 12 sacks, which led the team and tied for ninth-best in the league.
27.
On October 18,2015, Everson Griffen missed the game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to an illness.
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Everson Griffen was selected as the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 17, becoming the third Vikings player to win the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award in 2015, joining nose tackle Linval Joseph and cornerback Terence Newman.
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Everson Griffen ended his second year as a starter tied for fourth in the NFC and twelfth in the league with 10.5 sacks, becoming the first player in a Mike Zimmer defense ever to record double-digit sacks in back-to-back seasons.
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On January 14, Everson Griffen was picked to take the place of Houston's defensive end JJ Watt in the 2016 NFL Pro Bowl, marking his first career invitation to the annual showcase game in Hawaii.
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Everson Griffen finished the season with 48 total tackles, 22 quarterback hits, eight sacks, one pass defensed, and two forced fumbles.
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Everson Griffen was ranked 92nd by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.
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On July 26,2017, Everson Griffen signed a four-year, $58 million contract extension with the Vikings through the 2022 season.
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Everson Griffen recorded at least one sack in each of the Vikings first eight games and is on pace to break his own record of 12 sacks, a mark he got in the 2014 season.
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On December 19,2017, Everson Griffen was named to his third straight Pro Bowl.
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Everson Griffen finished with 5.5 sacks, 33 total tackles, five quarterback hits, and one pass defensed.
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Everson Griffen made his return to football in week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons.
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In Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Everson Griffen recorded his second career interception off a pass thrown by Eagles kicker Jake Elliott on a fake field-goal attempt.
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On January 21,2020, Everson Griffen was named to the 2020 Pro Bowl to replace Nick Bosa since the latter's team made it to Super Bowl LIV.
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On February 20,2020, Everson Griffen opted out of his contract, making him a free agent at the start of the new league year on March 18.
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Everson Griffen's arrival generated a great expectation that he could be part of a formidable pass-rushing unit along with defensive ends DeMarcus Lawrence, Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory.
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Everson Griffen made seven appearances, 20 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one tackle for loss and 12 quarterback pressures.
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Everson Griffen registered two starts in seven games, 13 tackles, 3.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits and three passes defensed.
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On September 25,2018, it was revealed that Everson Griffen was taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.
45.
Early on the morning of November 24,2021, Everson Griffen called 911, claiming that intruders were attempting to enter his home.
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Everson Griffen posted several videos on Instagram, in which he showed a pistol that he claimed his teammate Dalvin Cook had helped him purchase.
47.
On December 3,2021, Everson Griffen revealed that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
48.
On July 23,2023, Everson Griffen was arrested in Chanhassen, Minnesota, for 4th degree driving under the influence.
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Everson Griffen was booked in the Carver County Jail and was released an hour later.
50.
On May 30,2024, Everson Griffen was arrested for DWI and cocaine possession in Minneapolis, Minnesota after driving 82 MPH in a 55 MPH zone.