Shaquem Griffin did it all over the course of his football career. The former Seahawks linebacker overcame getting his left hand amputated at age four to become an All-American at UCF. He turned that into a fifth-round selection and four-year NFL career.That career is coming to an end, though. The 27-year old announced his intention Anthony Rizzo Jersey to retire in an article posted to theWednesday morning, citing his commitment to the NFL Legends Community, a program designed to offer support for NFL retirees while also building linkages with different communities acro s the country.Griffin detailed his interaction with NFL Commi sioner Roger Goodell, who asked Griffin to be a part of the Legends program.Im sitting at that fancy hotel having brunch with the commi sioner and hes telling me hed love to have me as part of the Legends Program. I look around the room and see all these vets these old-school Legends whove been around forever and Im thinking,.And then the moment I knew that I had to say yes was when I was sitting with the commi sioner and a few other guys, and we were just talking about football, rule changes normal stuff. Then, the conversation shifted. We started talking about whats happening on the streets in Chicago and how those communities are suffering. Guys started throwing out ideas on how we could help. How we could maybe improve peoples lives and make a real positive impact.And I was thinking,I had kind of already made up my mind before that, but that experience and that invitation from the commi sioner locked me in and led me to the decision I had to make.The time has come for me to retire from profe sional football.Griffin Nico Hoerner Jersey is a pioneer. He made history asthe first one-handed player drafted in the modern era of the NFL. He had his hand amputated when he was four years old Jose Quintana Jersey due to a condition called amniotic band syndrome, which prevented his hand from developing normally.Here's everything you need to know about Griffin's impending retirement.MORE:Griffin's retirement comes after a frantic few years for the UCF alum. Griffin spent his first three seasons in Seattle, playing with identical twin Shaquill. Griffin didn't see much time on the field during his tenure with the 'Hawks, but taking the field with his brother was his oasis, the fulfillment of the twins' childhood dream.In 2020, that dream was forever altered; Griffin was released by the Seahawks. He bounced around from team to team, eventually joining the Dolphins. But without Shaquill who had signed with the Jags in free agency Griffin felt the love he had for the game was beginning to wane.Being from St. Petersburg, I was happy to be back in Florida. But in Miami, everything felt different. I was still the same player energetic, happy, always working. But something was mi sing.And looking back on it now, I think that what was mi sing was my brother.Griffin gave it another go after being cut by Miami in 2021. He received Jon Lester Jersey inquiries from a number of teams and held workouts with the Cardinals, Titans and Jets. But Griffin was ready to let go.But after that Jets workout, I realized something. All this traveling around, working out for teams, trying to catch on somewhere, trying to hang on it wasnt what I wanted. Football had already given me so much, and the only thing I still really wanted from the game was to play with my brother again.So I told my agent, Buddy Baker, thank you for grinding and bringing me these opportunities. But unle s its Jacksonville, Im good.The one-on-one between Griffin and Goodell sealed the deal; Goodell ensured that Griffin would be a part of a program that figures to change countle s lives, both among former NFL players and the communities they came from.The is a program that looks to provide resources for NFL retirees as they transition to life after football.The NFL Legends Community works to ensure that everyLegend has the best po sible opportunity to live a fulfilling life after his playing experience, said Troy Vincent, the league's Executive Vice President of Football Operations.The program helps ex-pros get involved in a number of ventures after retirement, including entrepreneurship, scouting and coaching.Among its members are former All-Pro cornerback Charles Tillman and Hall of Famer Aenas Williams, who host a podcast alongside Tampa Bay Buccaneers corner Logan Steve Cishek Jersey Ryan.