Everson Griffen shares why he left the Minnesota Vikings last year

After spending the 2020 season in two ugly uniforms, Everson Griffen re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings on Monday.

Shortly after the 2019 season came to a close, Everson Griffen shared a post on his Instagram account announcing his decision to not return to the Minnesota Vikings in 2020.

Instead, Griffen chose to see if he could catch on with another NFL team. He wound up signing with the Dallas Cowboys, and then midway through the 2020 campaign, he was traded to the Detroit Lions.

On Monday, Griffen returned to his true home in Minnesota to help the team that drafted him in 2010 get back to the playoffs this season.

Everson Griffen regrets leaving the Minnesota Vikings in 2020

Following the Vikings’ practice on Monday, Griffen met with some members of the local Twin Cities media to talk about his return to the purple and gold.

During the press conference, the veteran pass rusher was asked why he decided to not re-sign with Minnesota in 2020. As he usually does, Griffen kept his answer very honest.

"“I thought the grass was greener on the other side, to be honest, and it wasn’t. Going to Dallas, going to Detroit, the grass wasn’t greener. I didn’t get the love that I got [in Minnesota] with the fans, with the coaches, with the players. The grass wasn’t greener. I learned, I’m back home and I’m happy to be home. I should’ve stayed last year, to be honest, where people love me, where the fans love me, where you guys love me, but I didn’t do that. I should’ve stayed and I’m happy to be back.”"

Unfortunately, Griffen did feel the need to see if he could find happiness with another team last season because the Vikings could have certainly used his pass-rushing skills when Danielle Hunter was lost for the year.

But now he’s back in Minnesota, Hunter is healthy, and this dynamic duo is ready to get back to making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks this season.