Robert Griffith
Robert Otis Griffith (born November 30, 1970, in Lanham, Maryland) is an American former professional football player who played as a strong safety in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons from 1994 to 2006.[1][2] An undrafted free agent out of San Diego State University, Griffith signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 1994 and quickly established himself as a hard-hitting defensive starter, amassing 1,076 tackles, 28 interceptions, and 8.5 sacks over his career while starting 167 games.[2][3] He spent his first eight seasons with the Vikings (1994–2001), where he earned All-Pro honors in 1998 and 1999, and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2000 following a breakout year with 96 tackles and four interceptions in 1996.[4][3] Griffith later played for the Cleveland Browns (2002–2004) and Arizona Cardinals (2005–2006), contributing to team defenses with his physical style and leadership, including serving as an NFL Players Association (NFLPA) representative.[2][5] He received the NFLPA Unsung Hero Award for his advocacy work during his playing days.[4] After retiring, Griffith transitioned into business and philanthropy, earning an Executive MBA from Fordham University in 2023 while managing the Purple 24 Fund, a minority-owned global project fund, and founding the nonprofit Robert Griffith Foundation to support college scholarships for underserved youth.[4] He also co-founded XOOX, a company that aids such scholarship efforts. His career exemplifies resilience, rising from an undrafted rookie to a respected NFL veteran known for his toughness and off-field impact.[3]Early Life and Education
Youth and High School
Robert Griffith was born on November 30, 1970, in Lanham, Maryland.[2] His family relocated to California when he was young, and he was raised in Spring Valley, a suburb near San Diego.[6] There, Griffith attended Mount Miguel High School, where he participated in multiple sports including football, basketball, and track.[7] In football, Griffith distinguished himself as a hard-hitting defensive back, earning All-CIF honors for his performance.[7] He also received All-CIF recognition in track, showcasing his athletic versatility.[7] During his high school years at Mount Miguel, Griffith honed his physical skills through rigorous training and competition, developing the strong work ethic that characterized his later career.[7] This foundation prepared him for his transition to college football at San Diego State University.[2]College Career
Robert Griffith joined the San Diego State Aztecs football team as an undersized walk-on cornerback in 1990, standing at 5 feet 11 inches and 200 pounds, after transitioning from his high school athletic background.[8][9] Despite the challenges of earning a scholarship and playing time as a freshman and sophomore—during which he dealt with an injury—Griffith adapted to various defensive roles and secured a starting position as a dimeback.[10][8] By his senior year in 1992, he had become a three-year starter and was appointed defensive captain, leading the Aztecs' secondary with his tenacity and coverage skills.[8][10] Griffith's on-field contributions were instrumental in bolstering San Diego State's defense, where he emerged as a projected All-WAC candidate known for his hard-hitting style and playmaking ability. In 1992, he earned second-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors after a standout season that included three pass deflections and two fumbles caused, contributing to the team's defensive efforts despite a 5-5-1 record.[10][8] Over his college career through 1992, Griffith amassed 246 tackles, eight sacks, two interceptions, and 13 fumbles caused, showcasing his leadership in disrupting opposing offenses and earning recognition as a key anchor in the secondary.[10] His 1991 performance was particularly notable, with two interceptions, five sacks, five fumbles caused, and seven pass deflections, highlighting his growth into a reliable defender.[10] Academically, Griffith balanced the rigors of Division I football with his studies, majoring in electrical engineering and graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from San Diego State University in 1994.[4][8] This achievement underscored his discipline off the field, as he worked multiple jobs to support himself while pursuing both athletic and intellectual excellence.[9]NFL Playing Career
Minnesota Vikings Tenure
Robert Griffith signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent immediately following the 1994 NFL Draft, after completing his college career at San Diego State University.[3] Initially assigned to special teams under coordinator Gary Zauner, Griffith spent his first two seasons (1994–1995) primarily as a backup safety behind veterans Todd Scott and Vencie Glenn, appearing in 31 games with limited defensive snaps while contributing 49 combined tackles.[3] His hard-hitting style and work ethic on coverage units helped him gain notice, setting the stage for a breakout opportunity.[11] By 1996, Griffith earned the starting strong safety position, anchoring the secondary for the next six seasons (1996–2001) and starting 87 of 88 games during that span, for a total of 88 starts over his eight seasons with the Vikings.[3] In his first year as a full-time starter, he recorded 95 combined tackles, 4 interceptions for 67 yards, and 2 sacks across 14 games, helping the Vikings reach the playoffs.[2] Griffith's performance peaked in 1998, when he amassed 89 tackles and a league-leading 5 interceptions among safeties, earning First-Team All-Pro recognition from Sporting News and contributing to Minnesota's franchise-record 15–1 regular season that culminated in an NFC Championship Game appearance.[2] The following year, in 1999, he received the Ed Block Courage Award from his Vikings teammates for exemplifying leadership, perseverance, and courage amid personal and professional challenges.[12] Griffith capped his Vikings tenure with a Pro Bowl selection in 2000, where he led the team with 104 combined tackles and added 1 interception during another playoff run.[2] Over his eight seasons in Minnesota, he totaled 645 tackles, 17 interceptions, and 7.5 sacks, playing a key role in defenses that supported one of the NFL's most potent offenses—led by quarterbacks Randall Cunningham and Daunte Culpepper—and facilitated five postseason berths, including two NFC title game pushes.[3] His relentless pursuit and run support made him a fan favorite and a cornerstone of the team's late-1990s resurgence.[3]Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals
Following his departure from the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent in the 2002 offseason, Robert Griffith signed a four-year contract with the Cleveland Browns worth approximately $15 million, including a $3.6 million signing bonus.[13][14] Griffith, who had voided the final year of his Vikings contract to enter free agency after eight seasons, brought veteran experience to Cleveland's secondary, reuniting with defensive coordinator Foge Fazio from his Minnesota days.[13] He played three seasons with the Browns from 2002 to 2004, starting 44 games and recording six interceptions during that span.[2] In 2004, Griffith led the team in tackles with 119 combined stops, solidifying his role as a defensive mainstay amid the Browns' struggles.[2] Griffith was released by the Browns in February 2005 as part of a defensive overhaul under new head coach Romeo Crennel, despite his productive output the prior year.[15] Shortly after, he signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals in March 2005 as a free agent, joining former Vikings teammate Dennis Green, who had become Arizona's head coach.[16][17] Griffith played his final two NFL seasons with the Cardinals in 2005 and 2006, adapting to new defensive schemes while providing veteran leadership to a young secondary.[2][6] His experience helped stabilize the unit during Arizona's rebuilding phase, drawing on the hard-hitting style honed during his peak years with the Vikings.[6] After the 2006 season, Griffith effectively retired from professional football at age 35, concluding a 13-year career.[2] In 2008, he signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Minnesota Vikings to officially retire as a member of the team where he had spent the majority of his playing days.[18]Career Statistics and Awards
Robert Griffith played 195 games over 13 NFL seasons from 1994 to 2006, primarily as a strong safety, accumulating 1,076 combined tackles, 27 interceptions, 8.5 sacks, and 51 passes defended.[2] His defensive contributions included 14 forced fumbles, highlighting his hard-hitting style that often disrupted opposing offenses and generated turnovers.[2] Griffith earned significant recognition during his career, including selection to the Pro Bowl following the 2000 season after recording 104 tackles and one interception.[2] He was named to the Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro in 1998 and 1999, seasons in which he tallied five interceptions and 130 tackles, respectively.[2] Additionally, Griffith was chosen for the All-Madden Team three consecutive years from 1998 to 2000, reflecting his consistent impact as selected by broadcaster John Madden.[19] In 2000, he was the Minnesota Vikings' nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, recognizing his on-field performance and off-field contributions.[20] The following table summarizes Griffith's regular-season statistics by year, focusing on games played, combined tackles, interceptions, and sacks across his tenures with the Minnesota Vikings (1994–2001), Cleveland Browns (2002–2004), and Arizona Cardinals (2005–2006):| Year | Team | GP | Comb Tackles | INT | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | MIN | 15 | 11 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | MIN | 16 | 38 | 0 | 0.5 |
| 1996 | MIN | 14 | 95 | 4 | 2.0 |
| 1997 | MIN | 16 | 115 | 2 | 0.0 |
| 1998 | MIN | 16 | 89 | 5 | 0.0 |
| 1999 | MIN | 16 | 130 | 3 | 4.0 |
| 2000 | MIN | 16 | 104 | 1 | 1.0 |
| 2001 | MIN | 10 | 63 | 2 | 0.0 |
| 2002 | CLE | 12 | 73 | 3 | 0.0 |
| 2003 | CLE | 16 | 93 | 2 | 0.0 |
| 2004 | CLE | 16 | 119 | 1 | 1.0 |
| 2005 | ARI | 16 | 66 | 1 | 0.0 |
| 2006 | ARI | 16 | 80 | 3 | 0.0 |
| Career | 195 | 1,076 | 27 | 8.5 |