Cornelius Griffin
A rock-solid defensive tackle whose powerful presence in the middle anchored the New York Giants' line for a championship season.
Born 1976 (age 50)·American football player·Birthday: December 3·Generation X
Biography
Cornelius Griffin's game was built on quiet, consistent disruption. Drafted by the New York Giants in the second round out of Alabama, the defensive tackle quickly became the immovable object at the heart of their defense. He wasn't a flashy sack artist, but his combination of strength and leverage allowed him to command double teams, shut down running lanes, and create opportunities for his teammates. Griffin's most impactful years came with the Giants, where his steady play was a cornerstone of a unit that helped propel the team to Super Bowl XXXV. He finished his career with the Washington Redskins, remembered by coaches as the reliable, professional engine of the defensive front.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Cornelius was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cornelius Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Cornelius's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Started at defensive tackle for the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV following the 2000 season.
- Recorded a career-high 5.5 sacks and 70 tackles during the 2003 season with the Giants.
- Played in 142 NFL games over a ten-year career, demonstrating notable durability for his position.
- Was a key starter on Giants defenses that were frequently ranked among the league's best against the run.
Did You Know?
He played his college football at two schools: Pearl River Community College and the University of Alabama.
Griffin wore jersey number 96 for most of his NFL career.
He was a team captain during his time at the University of Alabama.
After football, he returned to Alabama and worked in community relations.
“My job was to hold the point, to be the anchor they couldn't move.”
