Michael Griffin (American football)

Michael Devin Griffin (born January 4, 1985) is an American football safety for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Texas, and was picked in the first round (19th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Titans.

High school career
Griffin played running back and defensive back at Bowie High School. He rushed for 2,127 yards and 25 TDs along with averaging 23.4 yards per catch in his final two seasons, earning honorable mention all-state (5A) honors as a running back and All-Central Texas at both running back and defensive back.

College career
Griffin started his college football career in 2003 as a true freshman at the University of Texas in Austin. Griffin played all 12 games that season, but only started against Texas Tech and Washington State. Griffin recorded 65 tackles, with two sacks, and forced three fumbles.

Griffin's sophomore season, 2004, he also played 12 games, starting one. He registered 49 tackles, one sack, blocked two punts, tallied an interception, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble.

For Griffin's junior season, 2005, he started 12 of 13 games at strong safety. Griffin was honored with a second-team All-Big 12 selection. Griffin led the team with 124 tackles, along with three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and one caused fumble. Griffin tied Texas' single-season record with four punt blocks. Griffin intercepted a pass at the goal line in Texas' 41-38 Rose Bowl win against the University of Southern California for the National Championship.

Through the 2006 football season, he had appeared in 37 career games including 15 starts and posted 238 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, three sacks, four interceptions, five caused fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and a UT school record six blocked punts.

NFL career
Griffin was drafted with the 19th pick of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. On May 4, head coach Jeff Fisher stated that Griffin would be moved from safety to cornerback due to Adam Pacman Jones year long suspension, however later on in the season Griffin was moved back to safety after depth at the cornerback position developed better than expected and then starting free safety Calvin Lowry struggled to prevent the big play. Griffin finished the season with three interceptions and one forced fumble (all of which came at the safety position), as well as fifty-four total tackles. On June 19, 2012, Griffin agreed to a 5-year-deal worth roughly $35 million. On November 9, 2012, Griffin was fined $20,000 for his horse-collar tackle on Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte.

Personal
In college, Griffin was an honors student majoring in liberal arts. His twin brother, Marcus Griffin, was also a defensive back at UT. He always wears a watch during practices and his teammates often ask him how many minutes before practice is over. Their parents, Ronald and Mae, are both retired from the United States Armed Services.

In 2010 Griffin joined the School of the Legends (SOTL), which is an online community for NFL Players, coaches, and fans.