Cornelius Griffin

Cornelius Griffin (/kɔːrˈnɛliəs/; born December 3, 1976) is a former American football defensive tackle. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Pearl River Community College and Alabama.

Cornelius Griffin
refer to caption
Cornelius Griffin in 2007.
No. 97, 96
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1976-12-03) December 3, 1976
Troy, Alabama, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:303 lb (137 kg)
Career information
High school:Brundidge (AL) Pike Co.
College:Alabama
NFL Draft:2000 / Round: 2 / Pick: 42
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-SEC (1999)
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:425
Sacks:29.0
Interception:2
Player stats at NFL.com

Griffin also played for the Washington Redskins.

Early life and college career

Griffin was born in Troy, Alabama.[1] His father Willie Griffin was a pastor of the Lily White Pentecostal Church in Brundidge, Alabama, and Cornelius was one of Willie and Martha Griffin's seven children. Willie died in a car accident in 1998. Griffin graduated from Pike County High School in 1995 in Brundidge, Alabama. He first played college football as a defensive tackle for Pearl River Community College in Mississippi. Although he committed to Auburn, Griffin decided to sign with the University of Alabama after Auburn coaches wanted him to become a tight end.[2] In the Alabama Crimson Tide, he started 23 of 25 games in its team (including bowls). As a senior in 1999, he was part of the Super Sleeper Team and All-Southeastern Conference first-team.[3]

Professional career

2000 NFL Draft

Griffin was selected in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.[4] "His workouts were unbelievable. We saw him as a certain first-rounder", said Giants General Manager Ernie Accorsi.[5]

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 3+1⁄8 in
(1.91 m)		 297 lb
(135 kg)		 33 in
(0.84 m)		 10 in
(0.25 m)		4.85 s1.70 s2.81 s4.62 s7.63 s31 in
(0.79 m)		9 ft 3 in
(2.82 m)		30 reps
All values from NFL Combine[6]

New York Giants

Griffin played for four seasons with the Giants. He was a starter in Super Bowl 35 and recorded 1.5 sacks in the game.

Washington Redskins

Griffin was signed by the Giants' NFC East-rival Washington Redskins as an unrestricted free agent on March 3, 2004, during the 2004 offseason.[7]

Griffin had his best season in 2004, recording 96 tackles (66 solo) and six sacks. He compiled 29 sacks with 461 tackles (340 solo) as a defensive tackle during his career.

He was released on March 4, 2010.[8]

After the NFL

Griffin purchased a share of Flowers Insurance Company in Troy, Alabama. The name has now been changed to Griffin-Wilkes Insurance. Griffin also coaches has coached at Pike Liberal Arts High School in Troy, Alabama.[9] Although he currently coaches for the Pike County High School Bulldogs in Brundidge, Alabama which is also his hometown and hometown high school.[10]

NFL statistics
YearTeamGamesCombined TacklesTacklesAssisted TacklesSacksForced FumblesFumble Recoveries
2000NYG15342775.000
2001NYG166347162.501
2002NYG144932174.011
2003NYG155539171.001
2004WSH157056146.001
2005WSH13353414.011
2006WSH145039111.010
2007WSH164328142.500
2008WSH142816121.000
2009WSH143422122.010
Career14646134012129.045

[11]

References
  1. "Cornelius Griffin". NFL. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  2. Vacchiano, Ralph (January 13, 2001). "High Tide Alabama's son and Giants rookie Cornelius Griffin overcomes his father's death to reach the NFL". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  3. "Cornelius Griffin". Washington Redskins. Archived from the original on November 13, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  4. "2000 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  5. Wennington, Bill (January 12, 2001), "Griffin, Sometime Spy, Is Giant Secret Weapon", New York Times.
  6. "Cornelius Griffin", NFLDraftScout.com, retrieved May 13, 2010.
  7. Redskins Sign DT Cornelius Griffin From Giants Archived March 19, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  8. Redskins release Griffin
  9. "Teaming up for a common goal". November 12, 2010.
  10. Troy Messenger https://www.troymessenger.com/2022/05/24/bulldogs-wrap-up-productive-spring-adds-griffin-to-staff/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. "Cornelius Griffin Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
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