Tennessee Titans Throwback Thursday: Michael Griffin

Stoney Keeley relives the career of Michael Griffin on the latest edition of Tennessee Titans Throwback Thursday.

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Alright, we are BACK for another offseason run of Tennessee Titans Throwback Thursday, on which I take the opportunity to relive the career of a former Titan during the quiet time on the football calendar. From Blaine Bishop to Kevin Byard, the Titans seem to have always had a real strength at the safety position. It’s been a real hallmark of the franchise through the years. One of those guys, that carried the mantle for nine seasons from the mid-2000s to the mid-2010s, was Michael Griffin. To me, Griffin’s time with the Titans feels underrated and under-appreciated. I don’t know if it was largely because he played in between that memorable 2008 season and the team’s return to relevance these last few seasons or what. But, he was a definite standout on some mediocre teams throughout what, in hindsight, was a turbulent time in Titans history. Griffin looked like a prime candidate to go the Jason McCourty route, playing as a bright spot on a middling-at-best defense, and then spending the twilight of his career winning Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. Instead, injuries forced Griffin into retirement – after nine seasons with the team, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings, but was placed on injured reserve before the 2016 season even started. He was released five days later. The Carolina Panthers picked him up a week later, but his stint in Charlotte was short-lived. Ultimately, it was his nine seasons with the Titans that defined his career.

Griffin was a multi-sport athlete at Bowie High School down in Austin, Texas. Not only was he stud playing defensive back and running back on the football team, but he was a decorated basketball player and track and field competitor. He came out of high school as a four-star recruit, and it seems he was always destined for that Texas Longhorns program. Griffin made an impact right away – as a freshman, he was used as a strong safety and/or nickel corner in all 12 games. His athleticism was well above average, and that well-suited him for a versatile role on any defense. But, this was one of the golden eras of Texas Longhorns football we’re talking about. Griffin played in that 2006 Rose Bowl – “the Vince Young game.” He was a standout for a National Championship team, and a consistent elite performer for the program throughout his career. In 2007, the Titans selected him at 19th overall because of it.

Jeff Fisher initially wanted to move Griffin to cornerback, another testament to Griffin’s versatility. Ultimately, he needed him at safety, and that definitely worked in Griffin’s favor. He was, pretty much, an instant factor in the secondary. In his second year with the team, he earned his first Pro Bowl after posting 75 tackles, seven interceptions, 11 PDs, a forced fumble, and a touchdown. The Titans went 13-3 that year, and to this day, that defensive unit remains one of the best in franchise history. Specifically, that safety tandem of Griffin and Chris Hope was nasty. I might have to think about it a little more, but off the cuff, I want to say that was the best safety tandem in Titans history. Longtime Titans fans will remember the Steelers game from that season as the infamous stomping of the Terrible Towel, and some believe that act put a curse on the franchise. But, we forget that it was actually Griffin that closed that game for the Titans:

In 2010, he would earn his second Pro Bowl bid, and added second team All-Pro to his resumé as well. When I think of Griffin, I think of “pure talent.” He was rangy and athletic, electric with the ball in his hands. And, maybe more important, he was a rock at the position…consistent for so long. I would definitely rank him in that upper echelon of safeties in Titans history – Bishop, Byard, and Griffin.

Griffin had more than one of those game-ender type of plays throughout his career. I don’t want to be the guy that just turns a blind eye to the negative – there were times during his tenure with the Titans, especially later in his career, that Griffin was criticized for getting burned badly on big plays. But, I feel like he gets a bad rap from Titans fans who only remember those certain highlights, and his last couple of seasons with the team. This man was a stalwart of the franchise, not missing a single game from 2007-2013, and he was an electric play-maker on one of the franchise’s best defenses ever in 2008. The end of his career does not best represent Griffin’s talent, and it damn sure doesn’t undo his total body of work. You don’t last nine years in the NFL for no reason.

In 2018, Griffin signed a one-day contract with the team so that he could retire as a Titan – rightfully so. Today, he remains an analyst for the Longhorn Network, and even opened up a Gigi’s Cupcakes location in Austin, Texas with former Titan teammate and Texas Longhorn, Brian Orakpo. Griffin is the cupcake guy, and Orakpo is the decorator, according to a chat the two had with Amie Wells a year ago.

Griffin’s 25 career interception mark edges out Samari Rolle‘s 23 atop the Titans-era leaderboard. His 60 PDs are 5th in franchise history. And, his solo tackle number is only behind Keith Bulluck in the Titans era. He is firmly entrenched in the history of this franchise with a legacy of production and consistency.

Career Stat Line:

College: 188 total tackles, seven interceptions, 5.5 TFLs, and one sack
NFL: 803 total tackles, 12 PDs, 25 INTs, 12 forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, seven sacks, and one touchdown.

TENNESSEE TITANS THROWBACK THURSDAY ARCHIVES

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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley

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