DETROIT -- Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen watched the birth of his son on FaceTime before Thursday's game against the Detroit Lions. Then he celebrated his son's arrival with a sack and used the moment to crowdsource some possible names.
It all made for a memorable Thanksgiving Day for the star player, who welcomed his third child with wife Tiffany ahead of the Vikings' 30-23 win.
"Seven pounds, 2 ounces, born right before the game, so I was doing my warm-up watching the birth on FaceTime," Griffen said afterward. "So wife is healthy, baby is healthy, we don't know his name yet, but it's not about that. I'm happy to have a new addition -- three boys. I don't know what my wife is going to do. It'll drive her crazy. But we're 9-2, and it feels good winning."
Griffen was hoping fans would help choose the name for the baby, who joins brothers Greyson and Ellis.
After sacking quarterback Matthew Stafford for a 5-yard loss, Griffen lifted up his jersey, revealing a handwritten message on his undershirt. "I just had a baby boy. What should we name him?" the message read.
Said Griffen afterward: "I don't know. I was thinking about doing something, and I just thought of that. You know, 'This will be funny.'
"I'm going to check [social media], but I called my wife first and foremost to make sure the baby is doing good and everything is good. She's good, the baby's good, so we're all excited."
Griffen could face a penalty for the T-shirt message. The NFL fine for altering a uniform with a personal message is $6,076 for a first-time offense.
With two sacks Thursday, Griffen has nine games with at least one sack this season, the most by any defender in the league. His 12 sacks this season tie his career high, set in 2014.
"Yeah, yeah, it is," Griffen said when asked if this is his best season. "You know, I've been, like I said, I focus on my mental. I worked on myself this offseason. I understand who I am now as a person, and it shows dividends. You know, I see the fruits there."