Danny Griffin is a man of many talents. He has been called Mr. Versatility and a shapeshifter due to his ability to play in different positions and roles. His dedication and determination embody the blue-collar spirit of Pittsburgh.
But above all, one nickname keeps coming up to describe Griffin — the Hounds’ Iron Man.
Griffin is approaching an important milestone in his career with the Hounds, his 100th appearance with the team. The midfielder is likely to reach the mark this Wednesday, July 12, when the Hounds travel to face Louisville City FC, making Griffin only the 15th player to achieve that feat and the fastest to do so midway through his fourth professional season.
“I’m excited. It came quick, for sure. Being here the last four years, Pittsburgh has become a home for me, coming up on 100 is a great feeling,” Griffin said, never losing sight of the team’s goals. “Looking to stay on top of the table is what is most important for us; we want to have playoff games at home and keep the atmosphere that we have going.”
Griffin also holds the club record for consecutive league appearances at 85 straight matches from 2020-22, and the only match of any kind he missed during those three seasons was the Hounds’ first U.S. Open Cup match of 2022 against the lower-division Maryland Bobcats, which he was held out of for rest.
The consecutive matches streak ended when Griffin left the Riverhounds at the start of 2023 for a short stint at MLS Next Pro side Huntsville City FC. He played five matches for Huntsville, but the third-division team wasn’t the right fit for Griffin, and coach Bob Lilley was able to reach a deal to bring back the influential piece, much to the delight of Hounds fans who came to love Griffin’s work rate in his first three seasons.
“I’m enjoying (being back). We have a good group, we’re on a good run right now, playing well. It’s good to have the atmosphere we have at home, and there’s an exciting buzz,” Griffin said.
Griffin has played a major role in creating the buzz around the team. The Hounds have not lost a league game since Griffin returned, with a USL Championship record of 6-0-4 since he made his first appearance against Monterey Bay FC on May 5.
More buzzworthy was Griffin’s instrumental role in the Riverhounds’ run to the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals.
A Connecticut native and Providence College product, Griffin has deep New England roots. It was only fitting, that he was the player who scored to propel the Hounds to 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution, advancing the team to the Round of 16, giving the club its first win over an MLS team in 22 years and notching a first-ever road win over MLS opposition.
Player (Years) | Games Played (all competitions) |
---|---|
David Flavius (1999-2006) | 195 |
Kevin Kerr (2013-19) | 194 |
Kenardo Forbes (2018-present) | 176 |
Gary DePalma (1999-2004) | 157 |
Mike Green (2012-17) | 141 |
Sterling Flunder (2010-15) | 135 |
Randy Dedini (1999-2003) | 125 |
Nathan Salsi (2004-06; ’08-10) | 119 |
Jaman Tripoli (1999-2003) | 112 |
Hunter Gilstrap (2010-14; ’16) | 110 |
Jason Kutney (2004; ’06; ’08-13) | 108 |
Justin Evans (1999-2001; ’03; ’08-09) | 107 |
Michael Apple (1999-2002; ’04, ’06) | 106 |
Phil Karn (1999-2002) | 104 |
Danny Griffin (2020-present) | 99 |
Though goal-scoring isn’t the first tool that comes to mind when fans think of Griffin, it’s yet another way he can help the Hounds reach their ultimate goals.
“He’s capable of playing anywhere, a very versatile player that brings us energy every game,” Lilley said. “We pushed him higher (during May); he helped us get goals. We put him in the back; he helps us get a shutout. He covers an enormous amount of ground and has a lot of gifts, but he also is a team guy and has the mentality of a winner.”
Griffin hopes to keep the winning ways going for the Hounds. But as a player always focused on team goals first, he credited the entire squad for contributing to recent run of success, especially in light of recent injuries to Albert Dikwa and Robbie Mertz.
Of course, Griffin’s durability means he has yet to miss a match this year on his push toward No. 100 with the Hounds. Don’t expect him to be out of the lineup anytime soon, but even if he is, he says his teammates are equipped to keep winning.
“It’s definitely the hard work we’ve put in and also the amount that we have in quality,” Griffin said. “One guy can be out of the lineup, and another guy can step in, and everyone does their job. It’s overall team quality and the depth that we have that is pushing our group.”
This feature was written by Riverhounds staff intern Mitchell McIntosh.