Latest news with #EversonGriffen
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
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. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Everson Griffen denies 'unruly' behavior after Delta flight diverted
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Ex-NFL star Everson Griffen removed from Delta flight as 'unruly behavior' forces plane to make dramatic U-turn
Former NFL star Everson Griffen was reportedly removed from a flight Wednesday after allegedly creating a disturbance. The 37-year-old was onboard a Delta flight departing from Chicago when he was accused of 'unruly behavior.' The Minneapolis-bound flight was forced to return to O'Hare International airport minutes after taking off to have 'an unruly passenger removed,' according to TMZ. 'Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and will always work with law enforcement to that end,' a statement from a Delta 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 show the plane taking off from O'Hare at 10:56am CDT before touching back down in the Windy City just over an hour later at 12:09pm CDT. Griffen's disruptive actions are currently unclear and it is also not known if he was arrested at the gate after being escorted off the flight. However, his behavior was clearly disgraceful enough to warrant the dramatic U-turn from Delta. Chicago Police Department redirected request for comment to the Chicago Department of Aviation, who have yet to respond. Earlier in the day, the former Minnesota Vikings defensive end had appeared excited for his trip. He shared a video to his Instagram story from a car arriving at the terminal. The 6-foot-3, 273-pound defensive end played in the NFL from 2010 to 2021, earning four Pro Bowl nods. Griffen made headlines in 2021 when Minnesota police and mental health professionals rushed to his home after he posted a disturbing Instagram video of himself brandishing a handgun and later called 911 claiming an intruder was trying to kill him. 'Yo, yo, yo,' Griffen said while holding a handgun at the beginning of the 30-second clip. '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 said. 'I bought all my bullets around town.' Griffen added that Vikings running back Dalvin Cook 'helped me purchase this gun.' 'It all belongs to me and they are registered to me, so I know exactly where I bought them. I got the card I have them on. I have everything.' Shortly after 3am, Griffen called 911 to say there was an intruder at his home who was trying to kill him. The Minnetrista Police Department released a statement at the time saying they were called to Griffen's home after he phoned 911 around 3am on Wednesday, saying someone 'was inside his home.' 'Griffen also told the 911 dispatcher that he fired a weapon but nobody was injured,' police said in the statement. The intruder was never found, but therapists and police remained in contact with Griffen, who refused to leave his home. 'Since approximately 7am, law enforcement and psychologists from the Minnesota Vikings have been in on-going communication with Griffen, who has refused to come out of his residence,' the police statement continued. 'At this time, law enforcement officers are confident Griffen is alone inside the home and continue to work with him to resolve the situation.' In response to Griffen's Instagram video, the team rushed mental health workers to his home in Minnetrista to help officers resolve the situation peacefully. It was eventually reported that Griffen's hours-long standoff with police had ended peacefully. He later shared an emotional statement with his Instagram followers, admitting that he had been diagnosed as bipolar. Last November, Griffen pleaded guilty to third-degree drunken driving and was sentenced to 60 days on electronic home monitoring. As part of his supervised probation, Griffen was not permitted to use alcohol or any controlled substances, with the exception of prescribed medications. Griffen has three sons with his wife, Tiffany. He has previously battled mental health issues and apologized in 2018 for a 'nervous breakdown' in which he allegedly threatened to shoot hotel staff and jump out of a moving ambulance.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former NFL Player Everson Griffen Removed from Flight Over ‘Unruly Behavior': Report
NEED TO KNOW Everson Griffen was reportedly removed from a flight for 'unruly behavior' A spokesperson for Delta Airlines confirmed that a disturbance took place, but did not name the former Minnesota Vikings player The athlete previously underwent mental health evaluations related to incidents in 2018Former Minnesota Vikings player Everson Griffen was reportedly removed from a Delta Airlines flight shortly after takeoff. The 37-year-old had been traveling from Chicago to Minneapolis when the alleged incident occurred, TMZ Sports said Wednesday, July 16. A rep for Delta Airlines confirmed to PEOPLE that a disturbance took place Wednesday on Delta flight 1902 with service from O'Hare to Minneapolis/St. Paul on airbus A220. The flight crew 'followed procedures to return to Chicago O'Hare to have an unruly passenger removed,' a spokesperson for the airline said. 'Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and will always work with law enforcement to that end. We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel as safety and security comes before everything else at Delta,' the statement said. Hours before the news broke, the former defensive end shared a post to his Instagram Stories documenting his travels. 'We out Chicago!!! It's up, it better be!!!' he wrote over a video of him riding in a vehicle as it approached an airport terminal. The Vikings and Griffen did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Griffen, a four-time Pro Bowler, last played in the NFL during the 2020-2021 football season. Prior to his professional career, the Arizona native played college football for the USC Trojans. He also briefly played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions. In 2018, the Vikings ordered Griffen to receive a mental health evaluation after having what the NFL described as "verbal outbursts in practice," citing a police report. He also had incidents involving police at a downtown hotel, and another at his home after he trespassed on his teammate Trae Waynes' residence. Griffen was not arrested and did not face any criminal charges, the league reported. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. After undergoing evaluations and living in a sober house for three months, he spoke to the organization for an April 2020 interview. 'I'm happy that 2018 happened, because I wouldn't be sitting here today, being able to tell my story and showing teams that I am strong, I am healthy and there's nothing really that you have to worry about, because I'm doing all the right things," Griffen told the NFL. "There's nothing I'm doing behind the scenes that they should be worried about. I'm doing everything possible to make sure that 2018 doesn't happen again. And it will not happen." Read the original article on People
New York Post
6 days ago
- 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.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former NFL Player Everson Griffen Removed From Delta Air Lines Flight For Displaying 'Unruly Behavior'
Former NFL player and four-time Pro Bowler Everson Griffen is facing fresh scrutiny after a recent incident in Chicago, Illinois. Ex-NFL Star Everson Griffen Removed From Delta Air Lines Flight For 'Unruly Behavior' According to TMZ, Griffen, who joined the league in 2010 and retired in 2021, was removed from a Delta Air Lines flight for what the staff described as "unruly behavior." Flight records show that just minutes after the plane took off, it returned to Chicago O'Hare. "Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and will always work with law enforcement to that end," a spokesperson told the publication. "We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel, as safety and security [come] before everything else at Delta." It's unclear whether Griffen was arrested by law enforcement once he was removed from the flight. Everson Griffen Has Been In Trouble With The Law Griffen's latest incident is part of a larger pattern, as the athlete has been in the news for legal issues in the past. According to Sports Illustrated, in May 2024, Griffen was stopped while driving 82 MPH in a 55 MPH zone by a state trooper, who later noted Griffen's BAC (blood alcohol content) was 0.10 percent, which is above the 0.08 legal limit. The report also stated the former defensive end had cocaine in his possession. Griffen later pleaded guilty to third-degree drunken driving and was sentenced to 60 days of home confinement. Inside Everson Griffen's NFL Career Griffen was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He spent the first decade of his career with the team, during which he became a star player and team captain. Later, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys before being traded to the Detroit Lions mid-season. He returned to Minnesota in 2021 before stepping away from the league. In addition to his four Pro Bowl appearances, Griffen was named Second-team All-Pro during his dominant 2017 season. He recorded 85.5 sacks during his 12-year career, 403 total tackles, and two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). More Trouble For NFL Players Griffen's latest incident is one of several recent off-the-field controversies involving current and former NFL players. For those unfamiliar, in May 2025, the Baltimore Ravens released standout kicker Justin Tucker. "Sometimes football decisions are incredibly difficult, and this is one of those instances. Considering our current roster, we have made the tough decision to release Justin Tucker," the Ravens' general manager, Eric DeCosta, said in a statement. "Justin created many significant and unforgettable moments in Ravens history," the statement continued. "His reliability, focus, drive, resilience, and extraordinary talent made him one of the league's best kickers for over a decade. We are grateful for Justin's many contributions while playing for the Ravens. We sincerely wish him and his family the very best in this next chapter of their lives." Tucker's release came months after more than 15 massage therapists came forward, accusing him of egregious behavior during body sessions. The women, who all requested anonymity, claimed the former Ravens player would make intense eye contact with them during sessions, as well as brushing them with his exposed p-nis. Three of the women reported that, upon returning to the treatment room after Tucker's sessions, they discovered large wet spots they believed to be ejaculate. Tucker Denied The Claims In A Passionate Statement Tucker issued a passionate statement shortly after the allegations were made, slamming the original publisher for sharing "unequivocally false" claims about him. He explained that he's always sought to conduct himself professionally, and he's never "received any complaints from a massage therapist." "I have always made a conscious effort to be considerate and respectful in all of the interactions with the community that I love so much," he added. "It is devastating for me to learn that anyone would feel I was offensive in any way." Tucker continued, "I maintain I did not act inappropriately at any point before, during, or after a professional bodywork treatment session." "As a matter of principle, I respect when individuals come forward to report misconduct of any kind," he stated. "I support a process that allows claims to be properly investigated. But, for the sake of myself and my family, I cannot allow false claims to go unchallenged." He finished, "I cannot be any clearer. These allegations are false and incredibly hurtful to both me and, more importantly, my family."
