- Howard Griffith
caption=
position=Fullback
number=30, 29
birthdate=birth date and age|1967|11|17Chicago, Illinois
debutyear=1991
finalyear=2001
draftyear=1991
draftround=9
draftpick=236
college=Illinois
teams=
*Los Angeles Rams (1993-1994)
*Carolina Panthers (1995-1996)
*Denver Broncos (1997-2001)
stat1label=Rushing Yards
stat1value=351
stat2label=Average
stat2value=2.9
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=12
nfl=GRI439086
highlights=
* 2xSuper Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII)
CollegeHOF=Howard Griffith (born
November 17 ,1969 inChicago ,Illinois ) is a retiredAmerican football fullback who spent 11 seasons in the NFL (1991-2001). While at the University of Illinois, Howard set theNCAA record for touchdowns in a game with eight. It occurred onSeptember 8 ,1990 againstSouthern Illinois University . Griffith, raised in Chicago's Roseland neighborhood, attended now defunct Mendel Catholic Prep High School of theChicago Catholic League until his sophomore year. For his junior year, he transferred to Julian High School where he was an All-City performer.Biography
Griffith was drafted in the ninth round of the
1991 NFL Draft by theIndianapolis Colts , but never played a regular-season game for the Colts. Griffith made his NFL debut with theLos Angeles Rams in 1993. He played two seasons with the Rams, and then played two seasons with theCarolina Panthers after being selected in the1995 NFL Expansion Draft .In 1997, Griffith joined the
Denver Broncos , and played five seasons for the Broncos primarily as a blocking back forTerrell Davis . He didn't get very many rushing attempts, but was often used as a receiver out of the backfield, recording 27 receptions in 1996 and 26 in 1999. With the Broncos, Griffith won 2Super Bowl ring s inSuper Bowl XXXII andSuper Bowl XXXIII . Griffith was a big contributor in the Broncos Super Bowl XXXIII win, scoring 2 rushing touchdowns in the game. He also made a key 23-yard reception in the final quarter of Super Bowl XXXII, setting up Denver's final touchdown of the game. While playing for the Denver Broncos, Howard earned the nickname The Human Plow due to his extremely successful blocking for Terrell Davis.Griffith was forced to retire from the NFL at the start of the 2002 season, due to a neck injury sustained in the 2001 preseason that caused him to miss the entire 2001 campaign. [http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/DEN/4884573] His final totals over his 11 NFL seasons include 351 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, along with 122 receptions for 844 yards and 9 touchdowns.
He is currently a studio commentator for the
Big Ten Network .
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