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 2018

Former 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.

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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