A graduate of Grambling State, Griffin was chosen by the San Francisco 49ers in the 15th round of the 1964 NFL draft, but released in September of that year as the 49ers reduced their squad size to meet the league limit.
[1] He spent the 1964 season with the Joliet Explorers of the United Football League, and 1965 with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL, appearing in three games for the latter.
[2] Griffin joined the AFL's San Diego Chargers in 1966, impressing head coach Sid Gillman enough with his pass rushing ability to be named in the starting line-up for their Week 2 game with the Boston Patriots.
[4][a] In 1968, the newly-formed Cincinnati Bengals selected Griffin after the Chargers made him available in the expansion draft.
[7] Griffin didn't play in the AFL again, as he was released by the Bengals shortly before the start of the 1969 season.