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Who is Archie Griffin?
Archie Griffin’s name will be eternally associated with his unlikely win of two Heisman Trophies in 1975 and 1976. Archie Griffin returned for a final season, graduated a quarter early, and then went on to the NFL, in a sports milieu where most Heisman Trophy winners promptly go on to lucrative careers in the National Football League (NFL).
Archie is the only athlete in football history to have won the Heisman Trophy twice.
To begin with, Archie was not selected for the football squad due to his lack of athleticism. But, as the phrase goes, appearances don’t matter.
People who questioned Griffin’s athleticism were astounded by his outstanding football ability.
As a result, he became a football legend, winning back-to-back accolades and breaking numerous records.
Griffin has received numerous awards and honors, including the famous Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award, Maxwell Award, and others.
This essay will take you on Archie Griffin’s historical path from football hopeful to football icon.
Learn about his upbringing, net worth, profession, and relationships.
Archie Griffin’s Childhood
Archie Mason Griffin, an NFL legend, was born on August 21, 1954, in Columbus, Ohio.
He was the middle child of James Griffin (father) and Margaret Monroe Griffin (mother).
Archie hails from a large family, as he has six brothers and one sister.
His brothers are Jimmy, Larry, Daryle, Duncan, Raymond, and Keith, and his sole sister is Crystal.
Archie’s family appears to be athletically inclined: all four of his brothers played collegiate football, and two of them went on to play in the NFL.
Griffin’s father believed that a good education was the best gift he could give his children, therefore he worked constantly to provide for his family.
He used to work three jobs at the same time: driving a sanitation truck during the day, cleaning a school at night, and working in a steel mill.
Griffin’s family is now a legacy at Ohio State University, where Archie and his siblings have made significant contributions to collegiate football.
Education
Archie attended Eastmoor High School in Columbus and aspired to be a member of the school football team.
But he was little and overweight at the time, and the coach didn’t think he was a footballer.
He began going to the gym to get in shape and eventually joined the squad when one of the guys was injured.
Griffin went on to be Eastmoor High School’s starting halfback for the next three years, earning all-district honors as a junior and was chosen to the All-State Team after leading the team to the City Championship in 1972.
Griffin succeeded in his classroom as well as on the field, earning him a top student in high school.
More Facts About Archie Griffin
| Full Name | Archie Mason Griffin |
| Name | Archie Griffin |
| Nick Name | Tank, Butterball |
| Date of Birth | August 21, 1954 |
| Age | 68 years old. |
| Birth Place | Columbus, Ohio |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 189 lb (86 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Father’s Name | James Griffin |
| Mother’s Name | Margaret Monroe Griffin |
| Siblings | Six brothers and a sister: Jimmy, Larry, Daryle, Duncan, Raymond, Keith (brothers), and Crystal (sister) |
| High School | Eastmoor High School |
| Education | Graduate |
| University | Ohio State University |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Bonita Griffin |
| Marriage Year | 1987 |
| Children | Four; Adam Griffin, Anthony, Andre & Adam Griffin |
| Grandchildren | Three; Kamron, Diante, and Adrien Grifffin |
| Profession | Former NFL Player |
| Position | Running Back |
| Jersey Number | 45 |
| Leagues | National Football League (NFL) |
| NFL Draft | 24th overall pick in the first round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals |
| Debut Year | 1976 |
| Retirement | 1985 |
| Playing Teams |
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| Major Achievement |
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| Awards and achievements |
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| Net Worth | $3 million |
| Social Media | None |
| Merch | Autobiography |
| Last Update | August 2022 |
Height, Weight, and Age
He was born on August 21, 1954, making him 68 years old. August’s birthdays are Virgo.
Archie was born in Columbus, Ohio, and identifies as an American of African descent.
Griffin is also 5 ft 9 (1.75 m) tall and weighs about 189 lb (86 kg).
Griffin was short and overweight as a kid.
This was the sole reason he was rejected from the school squad; but, he was committed to getting fit and healthy, so he began working out at an early age to achieve that athletic figure.
College Experience
Griffin wanted to go to Northwestern University, but he was persuaded to play for Ohio State instead.
Archie was unstoppable in college, breaking record after record. During his four-year college career, he rushed for at least 100 yards in 34 games, including an NCAA record 31 times.
Griffin is also one of only two players in college football history to start four Rose Bowl games, along with Brian Cushing.
Professional Background
Archie Griffin was picked 24th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 1976 NFL Draft.
Griffin’s NFL career began with this, and he played for the Bengals for seven years (1976-1982).
After being released by the Cincinnati Bengals, he briefly played for the United States Football League’s Jacksonville Bulls.
Following Retirement
Archie Griffin returned to Ohio State University after retiring from the NFL.
In 1985, he worked as a special assistant to the Director of Athletics.
He was appointed to Assistant Athletic Director in 1987.
In 1994, he was named Senior Associate Athletic Director at Ohio State University.
Archie was the CEO and president of the Ohio State University Alumni Association for eleven years before stepping down in 2015.
He is currently a senior advisor at Ohio State’s Office of Advancement.
- Archie Griffin | Achievements and Awards
- Heisman Trophy winner twice (1974, 1975)
- Walter Camp Award winner twice (1974, 1975)
- Sporting News Player of the Year twice (1974, 1975)
- UPI Player of the Year twice (1974, 1975)
- The Maxwell Award (1975)
- Two-time Big Ten Player of the Year (1973, 1974)
- First-team All-American three times (1973–1975)
- First-team All-Big Ten selection three times (1973–1975)
- The number 45 of the Ohio State Buckeyes has been retired.
Archie Griffin’s Legacy
Archie is most remembered for his two Heisman Trophy victories.
Following his service, he was recognized and inducted into various halls of fame for his contributions to football.
In 1986, Griffin was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Similarly, in 1981, he was honored in Ohio State’s Varsity O Hall of Fame.
In 1990, he was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.
His jersey number, 45, was also retired in 1999.
Griffin was inducted into the High School Hall of Fame in 1996.
Eastmoor Academy renamed their field “Archie Griffin Field” in his honor.
In addition, he was honored on January 1, 2014, in commemoration of the 100th Rose Bowl Game, and he marched in the Rose Parade on January 2, 2014.
The Archie Griffin Autobiography
The Archie Griffin Story, was released on January 1, 1977.
He wants to share his life narrative, lessons, and learnings through this autobiography.
Throughout the 192-page book, he discusses how he came to have such a strong sense of self-worth.
He has written about his path from being a bullied boy who was never considered a footballer to becoming one of football’s all-time greats.
The Insolvency
Archie Griffin and his brother declared bankruptcy in 1981 after their debt escalated due to a disastrous business endeavor.
The brothers had founded an athletic shoe company, which had failed and left them in debt.
The couple owed almost $1 million and had around $200 000 in assets.
Bonita Griffin, Archie Griffin’s wife, and children’s mother
Regrettably, nothing is known about how the couple met and how their love affair began.
However, the pair married on March 21, 1987, and have four children: Adam Griffin, Anthony, Andre, and Adam.
Children
Adam Griffin, his eldest son, followed in his father’s footsteps by playing in the NFL.
In school, he showed exceptional talent. In high school, he was an All-District performer.
He was added to the Ohio Football team in 2010 due to his amazing specs.
He was, however, redshirted for the whole season. This did not deter him; he returned stronger, winning the Iron Buckeye award for the winter of 2013.
Unfortunately, Adam had a shoulder injury in 2013, therefore ending his football career before it even began.
Andre, his other son, was a running back at Ohio State from 1998 to 2001.
The NFL legend is currently an assistant coach at Ohio Northern University and formerly served as the Head Coach at Lima Senior High School.
Aside from Adam and Andre, little is known about his other children.
His other children most likely took a different road than he did.
Grandchildren
Archie is now old enough to have grandchildren. Kamron, Diante, and Adrien are his three grandchildren.
Furthermore, his grandchild is following in his footsteps.
His grandson, Dianté Griffin, stated in April 2022 that he has accepted an offer to play football for Ohio State University. Andre Griffin, Archie’s son, is the father of Diante.
Griffin has long been a household name in Ohio, and Diante has carried on the Griffin tradition.
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Presence on Social Media
Archie Griffin was born before the internet and is unfamiliar with it.
As a result, he has no social media handles.
However, there are various Griffin fan pages and fan clubs that you may join to keep up with his life updates.
Archie Griffin’s Salary and Net Worth
Archie Griffin’s net worth is believed to be $3 million.
It would be reasonable to presume that his NFL career had a substantial impact on his income.
He has also made a lot of money through investments, sponsorships, and endorsements.
