Archie Griffin

Archie Griffin is the first athlete in football history to win the Heisman Trophy twice. To begin with, Archie was not selected for the football squad due to his lack of athletic ability. However, as the phrase goes, looks aren’t everything. Griffin’s exceptional football ability astounded some who doubted his athleticism. He went on to become a football legend as a result of this, winning back-to-back accolades and breaking numerous records.

Quick Facts

Full Name Archie Mason Griffin
Name Archie Griffin
Nick Name Tank, Butterball
Date of Birth August 21, 1954
Age 67 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
  • Cincinnati Bengals (1976–1982)
  • Jacksonville Bulls (1985)
Major Achievement
  • Two times recipient of the Heisman Trophy
Awards and achievements
  • Maxwell Award (1975)
  • Two times Big Ten Most Valuable Player (1973, 1974)
  • Three times First-team All-American (1973–1975)
  • Ohio State Buckeyes No. 45 retired
Net Worth   $3 million
Social Media None
Merch Autobiography
Last Update  June 2022

What is the Net Worth of Archie Griffin?

Archie Griffin’s net worth is believed to be $3 million. It’s only fair to presume that his NFL career had a substantial impact on his income.

His investments, sponsorships, and endorsements have also made him wealthy.

Early Age of Archie Griffin

Archie Mason Griffin, an NFL legend, was born on August 21, 1954, in Columbus, Ohio. James Griffin (father) and Margaret Monroe Griffin (mother) had him as the middle child (mother).

With six brothers and a sister, Archie comes from a large family. 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, with two of them going on to play in the NFL.

Archie Griffin with his big family. (Source : Chilicotte Gazette)

Archie’s father, on the other hand, found it difficult to raise such a large brood. Griffin’s father believed that a good education was the best gift he could give his children, therefore he worked constantly to provide for them.

He performed three jobs at once, driving a sanitation truck during the day, cleaning a school at night, and working in a steel mill during the day.

Griffin’s family is now a legacy at Ohio State University, where Archie and his siblings have made significant contributions to collegiate football. His father’s effort was well worth it.

Education

Archie went to Columbus’ Eastmoor High School, where he aspired to be a member of the football team. But he was little and overweight at the time, and the coach didn’t think he was a football player.

He began going to the gym to get in shape and eventually joined the squad after one of the members was injured.

Griffin started at halfback for Eastmoor High School for the next three years, earning all-district honors as a junior and being chosen to the All-State Team after leading the team to the City Championship in 1972.

Griffin succeeded not just on the field, but also in the classroom, earning him the title of top student in the high school.

Height, weight and age of Archie Griffin

The NFL hero is 67 years old, having been born on August 21, 1954. August is the sign of the Virgo.

Archie was also born in Columbus, Ohio, and considers himself to be a black American.

Griffin stands 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 meters) tall and weighs roughly 189 pounds (86 kg).

Griffin was short and chubby when he was younger. He was rejected from the school squad only because of this, but he was committed to become fit and healthy, so he began working out at an early age to achieve that athletic figure.

College Career of Archie Griffin

Griffin wanted to go to Northwestern University, but he was persuaded to join Ohio State instead.

In college, Archie was unstoppable, smashing 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.

Archie Griffin, playing for Ohio State University (Source: Bigcommerce.com)

Griffin is also one of only two players in college football history to start four Rose Bowl games, along with Brian Cushing.

Professional Career of Archie Griffin

Archie Griffin was selected 24th overall in the first round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Griffin’s NFL career began with the Bengals, where he spent the next seven years (1976–1982).

After being released by the Cincinnati Bengals, he briefly played for the United States Football League’s Jacksonville Bulls.

Post-Retirement of Archie Griffin

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 promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Director at Ohio State.

Archie served as the Ohio State University Alumni Association’s CEO and president for eleven years before stepping down in 2015. He is currently a senior advisor at Ohio State’s Office of Advancement.

Achievements and Awards for Archie Griffin

  • Two times Heisman Trophy (1974, 1975)
  • Two times Walter Camp Award (1974, 1975)
  • 2 times Sporting News Player of the Year (1974, 1975)
  • Two times UPI Player of the Year (1974, 1975)
  • Maxwell Award (1975)
  • Two times Big Ten Most Valuable Player (1973, 1974)
  • Three times First-team All-American (1973–1975)
  • Three times First-team All-Big Ten (1973–1975)
  • Ohio State Buckeyes No. 45 retired

The Legacy of Archie Griffin

Archie is best remembered for winning the Heisman Trophy twice in his college career. He has been honored and inducted into various halls of fame for his contributions to the football field as a result of his contributions.

In 1986, Griffin was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. In 1981, he was honored into the Varsity O Hall of Fame at Ohio State.

Archie Griffin with his Heisman trophy (Source: Land grant holy land)

In 1990, he was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. His jersey number, 45, was also retired in 1999.

In 1996, Griffin was inducted into the High School Hall of Fame. Eastmoor Academy renamed their field “Archie Griffin Field” in his honor.

Apart from that, on January 1, 2014, he was honored in celebration of the 100th Rose Bowl Game, and on January 2, 2014, he took part in the Rose Parade.

Autobiography: The Archie Griffin Story

On January 1, 1977, Archie released his autobiography, Archie: The Archie Griffin Story. He wants to share his life narrative, lessons, and learnings through this autobiography.

Although he describes how he came to have such a strong feeling of self-worth throughout the 192-page book. He has written about his transformation from a tormented kid who was never considered a footballer to one of the game’s legends.

The Bankruptcy

In 1981, Archie Griffin and his brother filed for bankruptcy after their debts skyrocketed as a result of a disastrous business endeavor. The brothers had founded an athletic shoe company, which had failed and left them in debt.

The couple owed nearly a million dollars in debt and only had about $200 thousand in assets.

Wife and Children of Archie Griffin

Bonita Griffin is Archie Griffin’s wife. Regrettably, nothing is known about how the couple met and how their romance began.

Archie Griffin with his wife, Bonita Griffin (Source: Ohio State University)

However, the pair is known to have married on March 21, 1987, and had four children: Adam Griffin, Anthony, Andre, and Adam.

Children

Adam Griffin, his eldest son, followed in his father’s footsteps and played in the NFL. During his scholastic years, he shown exceptional talent. In high school, he was an All-District performer.

In 2010, he was added to the Ohio Football team because to his amazing qualities. However, he was given a redshirt for the full season. This did not deter him; in fact, he came back even 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 had really begun.

Andre, his other son, was a running back at Ohio State from 1998 to 2001. Formerly the head coach at Lima Senior High School, the NFL great now works as an assistant coach at Ohio Northern University.

Apart from Adam and Andre, little is known about the rest of his children. His other children are likely to have taken a different road than he did.

Grandchildren

Archie has reached the age when he can have grandchildren. Kamron, Diante, and Adrien are his three grandchildren. Furthermore, his grandson is following in his footsteps.

Dianté Griffin, his grandson, 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.

Presence on social media

Archie Griffin was not born during the internet era and is therefore unfamiliar with it. As a result, he has no social media accounts. There are, however, certain Archie Griffin fan pages and fan clubs that you may join to stay up to current on his life.

Most Commonly Asked Questions (FAQS)

What are Archie Griffin’s overall NFL statistics?

Archie Griffin has rushed for 2808 yards and averaged 4.1 yards per carry in his NFL career. He’s scored seven touchdowns on the ground.

How did Archie Griffin win the Heisman Trophy two years in a row?

Griffin won the Heisman Trophy as a junior at the University of Georgia in 1974 for his 1,700-plus rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.

He was named the Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player for the second time in his career after rushing for 1,450 yards and helping Ohio State to their fourth consecutive Rose Bowl berth. For his contribution, he received the Heisman Trophy for the second time.