During his time with the Minnesota Vikings, Everson Griffen was one of the easiest players to root for. While chasing down countless opposing quarterbacks, Griffen wore his passion on his sleeve, and Vikings fans loved every second of it.
While the former Pro Bowl pass rusher had plenty of exciting moments on the field during his NFL career, he's also experienced multiple struggles off the field in the last few years.
Thankfully, Griffen shared an update earlier this week on his Instagram account that should help eliminate any worries Minnesota fans might have had about him since his time inside the locker room came to a close.
"Life has given me every chance imaginable to keep my friends, protect my name, build a legacy my family could be proud of, and live an outstanding life. But I've been distant because I've been deep in the lonely work of owning that it's all been my fault.
The repeated mistakes, the burnt bridges, the pain I caused myself and others, the guilt and shame, and the hidden hurt I carried from childhood that showed up as a cry for help nobody fully saw.
I was blessed with success and opportunities most only dream of, survived amounts of drugs and partying that should have taken me out many times over, and I'm approaching a year of sobriety that is still brutally hard every single day, yet God's favor kept me here when I didn't deserve it.
I'm grateful, I'm humbled, I'm staying 100% real with Him and myself, and I'm finally ready to go deep into my full authentic story from the beginning.
The truth, the fear, the resilience, the grit, the new look at life, and the chances I still have, so I can grow every day and share the no-sugarcoating wisdom that might help somebody else understand their own pain and find strength to keep going.
I had CHANCES. I'm scared but there is never a right time. The time is now.
Buckle up shit is about to get 100% real!!!"
Former Minnesota Vikings DE Everson Griffen shares an amazing life update
Griffen sharing that he's approaching a year of sobriety is incredible news. It's not an easy thing to accomplish, so it's great to find out that he's been going down a much smoother path during the last 12 months.
The last time we saw Griffen on an NFL field was back in the 2021 season when he was finishing up his career with the Vikings.
He appeared in nine games for Minnesota that year, including six in the starting lineup. In those nine contests, he accumulated 15 tackles, 26 pressures, five sacks, and one forced fumble.
Fittingly, Griffen's final game in a Vikings uniform came against the rival Green Bay Packers inside U.S. Bank Stadium, which Minnesota won by a final score of 34-31.
After being selected by the Vikings in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft, Griffen spent 11 of his 12 seasons in the league in purple and gold. His 79.5 career sacks with Minnesota rank eighth all-time in the history of the franchise.
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