When Shaquill Griffin arrived in Seattle as a third-round pick in 2017, he was a confident young defensive back who respected his veteran teammates, but couldn't fully relate to what they were telling them.
When Richard Sherman, then in his seventh season, would talk to the rookie version of Griffin, Griffin would listen to his All-Pro teammate, but they were coming from different perspectives at that point of their career.
On Sunday, Sherman and Griffin were chatting on the Seahawks practice field once again, though this time it was Griffin in the role of veteran cornerback, while Sherman is enjoying a post playing career that includes being part of Amazon's Thursday Night Football broadcast and running a restaurant, Legion, with fellow Seahawks Legend Kam Chancellor.
And now, heading into his ninth season and his first year back with the Seahawks since he left in free agency in 2021, Griffin could tell Sherman that he understood those lessons better now.
"It is definitely different," Griffin said after Sunday's practice. "It's a little different when you have three babies running around, but they give me an extra spirit to come out here and continue to do what I got to do. Being over here, nine years now in this league and continue to do it at a high level, man, it feels great. I remember talking to Sherm on the sideline earlier and I said, 'I finally get what y'all was saying.' When you get a little older, your warmups get a little longer. I have got the daddy strength now, I understand that part. So, it's cool. It's a different perspective of getting a chance to do things, continue to provide for my kids and showing the best way to do things to continue to be that leader."
Among the biggest changes for Griffin from the last time he was a Seahawk has been the addition of three children to his family, two sons and a daughter who, as he tells it, runs the show.
"I have a five-year-old son, two-year-old daughter, and I have a three-month-old son," he said. "You all can probably have a guess who runs the house, the middle child. But yeah, she'll be here soon. She said she is ready to meet her fans."
After four seasons in Seattle as a starting cornerback, including a Pro-Bowl 2019 season, Griffin signed with the Jaguars in 2021, and has since also spent time in Houston, Carolina and Minnesota. While making a decision as a free agent this summer, Griffin said the opportunity to come back to the team that drafted him, and to where he and his twin brother, Shaquem, were teammates for three seasons, was one he couldn't pass up.
"It was a tad bit different when I first got here, getting a chance to play with my brother for over three years, now, coming back here, with a fiancé and three kids, it is a tad bit different," he said. "A lot of equations that I had to think about before making the final decision. So, one thing about it, my fiancé, my kids are right behind me, so made this decision easy to come right back home where it all started."
Among the many changes since Griffin last played in Seattle was the very significant one the Seahawks made last year, hiring Mike Macdonald as head coach after a very successful 14 seasons under Pete Carroll. For Griffin, that meant going from a head coach 40-some years older than him, one who had adult children on his coaching staff, to a head coach who is only seven years older than him and who is also the father of a young son.
Macdonald and Carroll are different coaches and run different defensive schemes, but as much as Griffin enjoyed his first four seasons in Seattle, he is also excited about what is to come this year under a new coaching staff.
"I love it," Griffin said of Macdonald's defense. "It still gives me a chance to be aggressive. I know a lot of things I am good at, putting hands on, get a chance to press up. I love the change-up part of your body about it too as well, get a chance to get a little bit more aggressive. The best thing about it, you give everybody a chance to do what they do best. It's off coverage, so press coverage, everybody got a position where they can make the best plays for themselves.
"I felt at home as soon as I came here on the first visit and got a chance to see some familiar faces. But I feel like the coaches would remind you that it's a little different now. My coach is a little closer to my age, so that's a little different. But, I feel like a lot of the talks had something that we can all relate to, and it was all good. It was a great conversation. Great scheme. And, I felt like the main thing was that it was just about being here and being home and comfortable. The coaches made it easier for me to make the decision to be here."
As for Griffin's role on the defense, that will be determined over the next few weeks leading up to the start of the season. Griffin missed the start of camp due to a personal matter, and after returning to the team last week, he is back to practice this week, working his way back to full participation. With Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen established as Seattle's top two cornerbacks, Griffing could push Josh Jobe for playing time with a strong showing the rest of the way, though Jobe has been very good in that third corner role since taking over the spot midway through last season, so he would be tough to unseat. Whatever the Seahawks ask of Griffin, he's ready to take that challenge on while being the type of veteran leader he had in Sherman early in his career.
"Whatever role they need me to be," he said. "I feel like as a right now to give me a chance to come in and bringing me slow to get a chance to get my feet back under me. But while I'm in this process, you can see me on the field, I will pull a young guy aside and continue to teach them everything that I've learned. I still have a lot of tricks in my bag that I learned when I first got here from Richard Sherman. So, I'm continuing to give whatever I can, whatever role it is for me, if it's coming in or different packages or being here to inspire the young guys to continue to lead the right way for the future to come. So, whatever it is, I'm a team player first. I've been around long enough to make sure whatever role it is, I'm going to do it to the best of my ability."
Check out photos of the Seahawks 53-man active roster for the 2025 season.
This is a 2025 photo of DeMarcus Lawrence of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0)
Seahawks cornerback Derion Kendrick (1)
Seahawks cornerback Derion Kendrick (1).
This is a 2025 photo of Drew Lock of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2)
This is a 2025 photo of Nick Emmanwori of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3)
This is a 2025 photo of Michael Dickson of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4)
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5).
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5)
This is a 2025 photo of Jalen Milroe of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6)
This is a 2025 photo of Uchenna Nwosu of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7)
This is a 2025 photo of Coby Bryant of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8)
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9)
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9)
This is a 2025 photo of Cooper Kupp of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10)
This is a 2025 photo of Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11)
This is a 2025 photo of Ernest Jones IV of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13)
This is a 2025 photo of Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14)
This is a 2025 photo of Tory Horton of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15)
This is a 2025 photo of Elijah Arroyo of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18)
This is a 2025 photo of Jake Bobo of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19)
This is a 2025 photo of Julian Love of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20)
This is a 2025 photo of Devon Witherspoon of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21)
This is a 2025 photo of D'Anthony Bell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks safety D'Anthony Bell (23)
This is a 2025 photo of Zach Charbonnet of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26)
This is a 2025 photo of Riq Woolen of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27)
This is a 2025 photo of Nehemiah Pritchett of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28)
This is a 2025 photo of Josh Jobe of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29)
This is a 2025 photo of George Holani of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks running back George Holani (36)
This is a 2025 photo of Brady Russell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks fullback Brady Russell (38)
This is a 2025 photo of Ty Okada of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39)
This is a 2025 photo of Chris Stoll of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks long snapper Chris Stoll (41)
This is a 2025 photo of Drake Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42)
Seahawks linebacker Chazz Surratt (44)
Seahawks linebacker Chazz Surratt (44).
This is a 2025 photo of Tyrice Knight of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48)
This is a 2025 photo of Jared Ivey of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Jared Ivey (51)
This is a 2025 photo of Boye Mafe of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53)
This is a 2025 photo of Olu Oluwatimi of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (55)
This is a 2025 photo of Connor O'Toole of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Connor O'Toole (57)
This is a 2025 photo of Derick Hall of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58)
This is a 2025 photo of Jalen Sundell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks center Jalen Sundell (61)
This is a 2025 photo of Charles Cross of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67)
This is a 2025 photo of Abraham Lucas of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72)
This is a 2025 photo of Josh Jones of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tackle Josh Jones (74)
This is a 2025 photo of Anthony Bradford of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford (75)
This is a 2025 photo of Grey Zabel of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks guard Grey Zabel (76)
This is a 2025 photo of Bryce Cabeldue of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks guard Bryce Cabeldue (77)
This is a 2025 photo of Mason Richman of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks offensive lineman Mason Richman (78)
This is a 2025 photo of Eric Saubert of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tight end Eric Saubert (81)
This is a 2025 photo of Cody White of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82)
This is a 2025 photo of Dareke Young of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83)
This is a 2025 photo of AJ Barner of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88)
This is a 2025 photo of Nick Kallerup of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Signed tight end Nick Kallerup (89) on May 2, 2025.
This is a 2024 photo of Jarran Reed of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90)
This is a 2025 photo of Byron Murphy II of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91)
This is a 2025 photo of Mike Morris of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 9, 2025 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive end Mike Morris (94)
This is a 2024 photo of Leonard Williams of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99)
