Former Vikings star pulled over for driving ‘impaired’ and in possession of cocaine

Things have gone sideways for this player that was used to having an impact on the field and now he faces problems with the law

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen reacts to music being played as he takes part in an NFL training session at the London Irish rugby team training ground in the Sunbury-onThames suburb of south west London, Friday, Oct. 27, 2017. The Minnesota Vikings are preparing for an NFL regular season game against the Cleveland Browns in London on Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

He was a good and productive player during his time on the gridiron, but he now faces severe problems with the law. Former Minnesota Viking star Everson Griffen was arrested late Tuesday night after a trooper pulled him citing probable cause DWI. According to police reports, he is suspected of driving his Bentley under the influence.

According to State Patrol, the 36-year-old was spotted driving on Interstate 35 West in Minneapolis near midnight when the trooper pulled him over and observed visible signs of impairment.

Two passengers accompanied Griffen in the car and the state trooper described the vehicle as reeking of alcohol, but that was not all. Authorities also discovered a small ball full of white powder, which was field tested and identified as cocaine, incurring more penalties for an already complicated arrest.

This is not the first time that he has had trouble with the law

Everson Griffen played for the Vikings from 2010 to 2019 and then returned to the team in 2021 and played in nine games. He has not played since his last stint in Minnesota.

He was arrested last year in Carver County, Minnesota, for a suspected DWI, and that is only on of many events that has led to problems for him. The former NFL defensive star underwent a mental health evaluation after the Minneapolis Police Department arrested the four-time Pro Bowler in 2018. Griffen threatened to shoot a person at the Hotel Ivy.

After that, the Vikings requested that Griffen undergo the evaluation and it was later revealed that he suffers from bipolar disorder. In 2021, Griffen was involved in an erratic scene where he live-streamed himself with a weapon and claimed he was defending himself from a supposed intruder in his home.