First One-Handed NFL Player Shares a Sweet Moment With a Young One-Handed Fan

If you’re an NFL fan, then you likely know all about Seahawks linebacker Shaquem Griffin, a 23-year-old football-playing phenom who just wrapped up an incredible season in Seattle. He’s a notable player for his versatility on the field, but also because he has managed to rise the ranks into one of the best NFL teams in football despite only having one hand.

You see, when Griffin was just a little boy, he was forced to have his left hand amputated. The issue initially arose in the womb, when doctors noticed that his hand was not developing normally. For the first years of his life, Shaquem lived with a malformed hand, but when the pain from the ailment became too much to bear, his family decided that it was time to amputate.

His mother and father made the decision not to treat Shaquem any differently, despite his having a disability; amazingly, it seems that their tactic worked because Shaquem just finished up a great first season playing in the NFL.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the one-handed football player has become a fan-favorite for his uniqueness, but he is also making a name for himself in the community. Just this past week, he visited the Brooks Rehabilitation Center in Jacksonville, Florida where he connected with a pint-sized fan named Joseph who just so happens to have the same amputation as him.

Spoiler alert: it was an ADORABLE scene!

Little Joseph, or “JoJo” as he is called by his sweet family, might not be old enough to know that the NFL player shares his very same disability, but we still think that the interaction had an impact on the tyke. And, when he’s old enough, we’re sure that he’ll look back on the experience and find so much inspiration there.

Amazingly, Joseph wasn’t the only young fan that Shaquem visited and inspired, he also took the opportunity to connect with other young kids who are on the way to beating the odds, just like he did. And, because the linebacker is so proud of his work in the community, he made sure to share snapshots on his social media to spread the love and inspire further:

 

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This is why I love what I do. Extremely blessed🙏🏾 #AgainstAllOdds

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What a guy! We’re so happy to hear that Griffin is finding his work both on and off the field to be so gratifying. Something tells us that the footballer is going to continue his public service well into the future. Good on him!

Now that you know about this groundbreaking NFL’rs encounter with young Joseph, it’s time for you to see it for yourself. To watch Shaquem Griffin meet the adorable tyke and his supportive family, be sure to watch the video below!

We’d love to get your take on this very sweet interaction. Are you a fan of Shaquem Griffin? Who is your favorite football player? Do you know anyone who overcame a disability?