Latest news with #Griffen
USA Today
17-07-2025
- USA Today
Ex-NFL player denies 'unruly' behavior after Delta flight diverted
A former NFL player is speaking out after a report said he was removed from a Delta Air Lines flight from Chicago that turned around for what the airline described as an unruly passenger. Delta flight 1902, which left Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Wednesday, July 16, bound for Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, returned after crew members "followed procedures to have an unruly passenger removed," Delta spokesperson Morgan Durrant told USA TODAY. Former NFL Pro Bowl defensive end Everson Griffen, who TMZ Sports identified as the passenger that was removed, posted an Instagram story saying: "I'm doing just fine. My behavior was not unruly at all. Why would they let me go.' The Delta spokesperson did not identify the passenger, nor elaborate on what the passenger allegedly did. USA TODAY has reached out to Griffen, 37, for more details. Delta: 'Zero tolerance for unruly behavior' According to flight tracking website Flight Aware, the Airbus A220 took off from Chicago at 11:15 a.m. local time and returned to the airport at 12:09 p.m. "Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and will always work with law enforcement to that end," Durrant said on July 17. "We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel as safety and security comes before everything else at Delta." 'In-flight altercation': Flight to London diverts to Maine 4-time Pro Bowler Griffen made four Pro Bowls in the NFL, all with the Vikings, after spending his college career at the University of Southern California. Griffen took leave from the Vikings in 2018 to receive treatment for mental health issues, USA TODAY previously reported. He spent the first 10 seasons of his NFL career with the Vikings, then split time between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys in 2020 before signing a deal with Minnesota in 2021. In 2024, after being pulled over by a Minnesota State Trooper in Minneapolis on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, Griffen replied to a post on a Vikings' fan page on X, publicly announcing he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. "You will have hard times," Griffen wrote. "The most incredible thing you can do is to listen to people who love you the most." Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
New York Post
17-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Ex-NFL star Everson Griffen's ‘unruly behavior' forced flight to turn around
A former NFL star had to be removed from a Delta Airlines flight after he allegedly caused a disturbance mid-trip on Wednesday. Ex-Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen was headed to Minneapolis from Chicago when the alleged incident took place and forced the plane to return to O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, TMZ reported. The specifics of the incident are unknown, and it wasn't immediately clear if Griffen was facing any legal ramifications. Advertisement A Delta spokesperson confirmed to The Post that a flight from O'Hare to Minneapolis/St. Paul returned to Chicago 'to have an unruly passenger removed.' 3 Minnesota Vikings' Everson Griffen (97) celebrates after a sack against the Carolina Panthers in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. AP 'Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and will always work with law enforcement to that end,' the spokesperson said. 'We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel as safety and security comes before everything else at Delta.' Flight logs showed Delta flight 1902 departed O'Hare at 10:56 a.m. CDT and touched back down in Chicago a little more than an hour later at 12:09 p.m. Advertisement The Chicago Department of Aviation, which oversees O'Hare, directed The Post back to Delta when asked for comment. Griffen, 37, posted to social media earlier in the day, expressing excitement about his trip in an Instagram Story video of him arriving at the airport, captioning it 'We out Chiccago.' The former NFL defensive end played over a decade in the league, spending 11 seasons with the Vikings and splitting the 2020 campaign between time with the Cowboys and Lions. Advertisement 3 Everson Griffen of the Minnesota Vikings reacts prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Getty Images Over the course of his 170-game career, he started 96 contests, recorded 88.5 sacks and made the Pro Bowl four times. Griffen was placed on the non-football injury/illness list in November 2021 related to mental health issues, several days after the Vikings played the Packers. It came after a standoff with police at his home that started after he had called 911 and told the dispatcher that someone had been inside the house and he needed help. Advertisement 3 Everson Griffen celebrates after the Cowboys' win in a 2020 NFL football game against the New York Giants in Arlington, Texas. AP He also posted, and later deleted, a video on Instagram of himself holding a gun and saying people were trying to kill him. Griffen later said he was 'bipolar' in a post on Instagram. In May 2024, Griffen was arrested for DWI and possession of cocaine, and as part of a plea deal, he had his driver's license revoked. He was also ordered to commit no alcohol-related or careless driving offenses.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Everson Griffen accused of unruly outburst that forces Delta Air Lines flight back to Chicago
Photo byEverson Griffen, the former Minnesota Vikings star and four-time Pro Bowler once celebrated for terrorizing NFL quarterbacks, is now making headlines for all the wrong reasons. On Wednesday, passengers on a Delta flight from Chicago to Minneapolis found their journey abruptly cut short when the plane turned around to remove the 37-year-old defensive end for allegedly unruly behavior. The mid-air disruption forced the aircraft to land back at O'Hare International Airport, leaving fellow travelers stranded and reviving questions about Griffen's troubled history off the field. It's the latest public crisis for a man whose personal battles have long played out in the spotlight. Former NFL Pro Bowler Everson Griffen's Delta Air Lines meltdown forces Chicago return, spotlighting mental health struggles The drama unfolded Wednesday morning aboard a Delta Air Lines flight that departed Chicago's O'Hare International Airport at 10:56 a.m. CDT. Shortly after takeoff, the Minneapolis-bound aircraft was forced to reverse course due to what the airline called 'an unruly passenger.' Flight logs show it landed back in Chicago at 12:09 p.m. CDT, confirming the unscheduled return. While Delta did not specify Griffen's actions on the flight, the airline was clear about its stance. 'Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and will always work with law enforcement to that end,' a spokesperson said in a statement. 'We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel as safety and security comes before everything else at Delta.' Details about Everson Griffen's behavior remain murky, and it's unclear whether he was arrested after being escorted off the plane. Earlier in the day, however, Griffen appeared carefree, even sharing an upbeat Instagram Story from a car on the way to the airport. The 6-foot-3, 273-pound defensive end played in the NFL from 2010 to 2021, building a reputation as one of the league's most fearsome pass rushers. But his off-field challenges have been equally high-profile. In 2021, Griffen alarmed fans and authorities after posting a disturbing video on Instagram from his Minnetrista, Minnesota home. 'Yo, yo, yo,' he said while waving a handgun. 'I'm in my house. N****** trying to pop me. I still got clips left. This is my gun, .45 Wilson Combat, registered to me,' he explained. He also claimed Vikings running back Dalvin Cook 'helped me purchase this gun.' Later that morning, Griffen called 911 around 3 a.m. to report an intruder at his home, telling dispatchers he had fired his weapon. The Minnetrista Police Department later said no intruder was ever found but confirmed they spent hours negotiating with Griffen. 'At this time, law enforcement officers are confident Griffen is alone inside the home and continue to work with him to resolve the situation,' police said. Griffen ultimately exited peacefully, with the Vikings coordinating to send mental health professionals to help. Everson Griffen's NFL legacy clouded by mental health struggles and controversy Wednesday's dramatic in-flight incident is the latest in a series of troubling moments for Griffen, who has openly acknowledged battling mental health issues, including a 2018 'nervous breakdown' in which he threatened to shoot hotel staff and jump from an ambulance. Now retired with three sons and his wife Tiffany, Griffen's NFL legacy as a four-time Pro Bowler is unmistakable—but so too is the question of whether he's receiving the help he needs to avoid more headlines like this in the future. Also Read: Chilling 911 call details emerge as Cleveland Browns rookie Quinshon Judkins faces domestic violence charge Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USC football countdown to kickoff continues—Everson Griffen in focus
USC football countdown to kickoff continues—Everson Griffen in focus Everson Griffen made the jump from USC to the NFL and became a great pro The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 93 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. Today, we take a look back at another great USC defensive lineman, Everson Griffen. Position: Defensive line Years played at USC: 2007-2009 Career highlights: A highly-touted recruit out of Arizona, Griffen arrived at USC in 2007. He became an immediate contributor as a true freshman in a loaded front seven that featured the likes of Sedrick Ellis, Lawrence Jackson, Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, and Clay Matthews III. In three seasons with the Trojans, Griffen recorded 82 tackles and 16 sacks. After USC: Griffen declared for the 2010 NFL draft, where the Minnesota Vikings selected him in the fourth round. He would go on to play 12 seasons in the league—all but one of which came with Minnesota—earning four Pro Bowl honors. His best statistical season came in 2017, when he recorded 45 tackles, 13 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one pass defended as the Vikings advanced to the NFC Championship Game. Griffen has openly discussed his struggles with bipolar disorder. Last November, he was arrested for a DWI. He was sentenced to 60 days of house arrest and four years of probation.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Texas A&M lands a commitment from Kansas transfer guard
Texas A&M wasted no time responding to Duke Miles' departure, securing a commitment from Kansas transfer guard Rylan Griffen for the 2025 class. Griffen, a 6'6" sharpshooter, spent two seasons at Alabama, where he played a key role in the 2024 Final Four run before transferring to Kansas for his junior season. In his lone year with the Jayhawks, he averaged 6.3 points and 1.4 assists, shooting 33.6% from beyond the arc. Advertisement His breakout season came during his sophomore campaign at Alabama, where he posted 11.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and a 39.2% three-point shooting percentage. A former four-star recruit, Griffen returns to his home state of Texas, where he was ranked as the No. 5 prospect coming out of high school. His elite shooting ability and aggressive defensive play make him a strong fit for Bucky McMillan's fast-paced "Bucky Ball" system, which thrives on high-energy, up-tempo basketball. With Griffen in the mix, Texas A&M continues to reshape its roster under McMillan, aiming to build a competitive squad for SEC play. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1. This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Former Kansas G Rylan Griffen will transfer to Texas AM
