On track to hit free agency this year after spending the 2021 season with the Minnesota Vikings, Everson Griffen recently expressed a desire to continue his football career.
After a year away from the franchise, plenty of Minnesota Vikings fans were excited to see the return of veteran pass rusher Everson Griffen to the team last season.
During the 2020 campaign, the Vikings lacked veteran leadership, especially on the defensive side of the ball. So when Griffen re-joined Minnesota prior to the start of the 2021 season, the team got a boost both on the field and inside the locker room.
However, the veteran defensive end only ended up appearing in nine games for the Vikings in 2021 after he had to step aside midway through the season when improving his mental health became a much larger priority than football.
Will Everson Griffen return to the Minnesota Vikings for the 2022 season?
In March, Griffen will become a free agent, and at 34-years-old, some might be wondering if his time in the NFL has already come to a close. Well, the veteran defensive end isn’t one of those people.
Griffen recently spoke to the Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson and he was asked if he still wants to continue his football career in 2022.
"“Yeah, of course I’m looking to play again [in 2022].”"
As for how his mental health is currently doing, the veteran pass rusher had this to say.
"“I’m doing well, but I’m taking it one day at a time, and I feel good.”"
At the very least, it sounds like Griffen’s mental health is heading in the right direction, and at this point, that is much more important than him returning to the football field.
With a new regime in place for the Vikings, chances don’t seem very high that the veteran defensive end will remain in purple and gold for the 2022 season.
If he truly does have the desire to still play in the NFL next season, following Andre Patterson to the New York Giants might be his best bet (Patterson recently became New York’s defensive line coach).
It was a good run for Griffen in Minnesota, but the team is heading in a new direction, and their plans for the future probably won’t include the 34-year-old pass rusher.