Linebacker With No Limits

Griffin’s medical condition began prenatally, or before birth. During his mother’s pregnancy, doctors took a routine ultrasound. The procedure, which uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image, revealed an unusual problem: a strand of fibrous tissue inside the womb had wrapped around Griffin’s left hand. This condition is called amniotic band syndrome, or ABS (see What is ABS?).

“We still don’t know exactly why it happens,” says Dr. Hanmin Lee, who studies ABS and other prenatal conditions at the University of California, San Francisco. “But when it does, it basically strangulates parts of the body—most commonly, the hands, arms, or legs.”

Griffin’s medical condition began prenatally, or before birth. When his mother was pregnant, doctors took a regular ultrasound. The procedure uses high-frequency sound waves to form an image. It showed an unusual problem. A strand of fibrous tissue had wrapped around Griffin’s left hand inside the womb. This condition is called amniotic band syndrome, or ABS (see What is ABS?).

Dr. Hanmin Lee studies ABS and other prenatal conditions at the University of California, San Francisco. “We still don’t know exactly why it happens,” he says. “But when it does, it basically strangulates parts of the body—most commonly, the hands, arms, or legs.” 

From the moment Griffin was born, his parents decided to raise him no differently than his twin brother. As the two boys grew up, they became inseparable at home, at school, and on the football field.

Griffin and his twin brother both trained to be football players from a young age, and Griffin refused to let his missing hand prevent him from tackling opponents or throwing and catching the ball. He wanted to play just as hard as anyone.

From the moment Griffin was born, his parents made a decision. They would raise him no differently than his twin brother. As the two boys grew up, they were always together at home, at school, and on the football field.

Griffin and his twin brother both trained to be football players. They started at a young age. Griffin wouldn’t let his missing hand stop him. He tackled opponents and threw and caught the ball. He wanted to play just as hard as anyone.

When he was in high school, Griffin’s parents built him special devices—like a cloth-covered piece of wood that made it easier to do bench presses and straps that helped him do bicep curls—to help him work out despite his missing hand. The training worked: By the time he was a high school senior, Griffin could bench-press 118 kilograms (260 pounds).

When it came time to graduate high school in 2013, the boys fulfilled a lifelong promise to always stick together, and both headed to the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando. There, they joined the school’s football team. Although Shaquill was given a starting position, Shaquem wasn’t. But after three seasons, his speed and strength couldn’t be overlooked. In 2016, he was picked to play in the team’s starting lineup, and scouts for the NFL began to notice.

When he was in high school, Griffin’s parents built him special devices. For example, they built a cloth-covered piece of wood to help him bench press. They made straps that helped him do bicep curls. That way, he could work out even with a missing hand. The training worked. By the time he was a high school senior, Griffin could bench-press 118 kilograms (260 pounds).

In 2013, it came time to graduate from high school. The boys kept a lifelong promise to always stick together. Both went to the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando. There, they joined the school’s football team. Shaquill was given a starting position, and Shaquem wasn’t. But after three seasons, his speed and strength couldn’t be overlooked. In 2016, he was picked to be in the team’s starting lineup. NFL scouts began to notice. 

In 2018, Griffin was invited to attend the scouting combine, a special weeklong event hosted by the NFL, in which hopeful players endure physical tests in front of scouts, coaches, and team managers. An athlete’s performance at the combine influences whether or not he might be drafted into one of the league’s 32 teams.

Going into the combine, Griffin was still far from a household name. He had won many accolades for his final two seasons at UCF, but his brother, Shaquill, was the better-known player. That didn’t last long.

In 2018, Griffin was invited to the scouting combine. The NFL hosts this special weeklong event. There, hopeful players go through physical tests in front of scouts, coaches, and team managers. An athlete’s performance at the combine is important. It affects whether or not he might be drafted by one of the league’s 32 teams.

When the combine started, Griffin still wasn’t well-known. He had won many honors for his final two seasons at UCF. But his brother, Shaquill, was the better-known player. That didn’t last long. 

At the combine, Griffin ran the fastest-ever 40-yard dash—one of the main events—by a linebacker. His time of 4.38 seconds tied his brother, who weighs less and plays a speedier cornerback position. Next, Griffin bench-pressed 102 kg (225 lbs)—20 times—using a prosthetic hand. And just as important as his physical feats, Griffin’s attitude and spirit made it clear that he had what it takes to help teams win championships.

It wasn’t long after the combine that Griffin learned he’d been picked to play with the Seattle Seahawks. His brother had joined the team one year earlier. So starting this fall, they’ll be playing football together once again. Win or lose, Griffin knows that he’s made it. “I don’t define myself by my successes,” Griffin says. “I define myself by adversity, and how I’ve persevered.”

At the combine, the 40-yard dash was one of the main events. Griffin ran the fastest-ever 40-yard dash by a linebacker. His brother weighs less and plays a faster cornerback position. But Griffin’s time of 4.38 seconds tied with his brother. Next, Griffin bench-pressed 102 kg (225 lbs) with a prosthetic hand. He did it 20 times! And Griffin’s attitude and spirit were just as important as his physical acts. They showed that he had what it takes to help teams win championships.

Not long after the combine, Griffin learned he’d been picked to play with the Seattle Seahawks. His brother had joined the team the year before. So they’ll be playing football together again, starting this fall. Win or lose, Griffin knows that he’s made it. “I don’t define myself by my successes,” Griffin says. “I define myself by adversity, and how I’ve persevered.”