Getty Robert Griffin III after a Ravens playoff game in 2020.
Former No. 2 overall draft pick Robert Griffin III has had a long and turbulent NFL career dating back to 2012. Now whenever the former Baltimore Ravens quarterback decides he is finished playing, it appears he has a lucrative media career awaiting him.
This time of year, broadcast networks typically conduct interviews to figure out new talent lineups for the upcoming football season. Players who are retired or pondering a career change go through broadcast boot camp, and out of that period, some stars eventually emerge. Griffin might now be set to be one of those future stars.
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According to a June 16 report from Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, Griffin is in demand as an analyst from a couple of outlets, notably ESPN and Fox. Both have NFL and college football packages, and that’s where Griffin could be expected to show off his talent if and when he elects to be a broadcaster.
“Griffin really excelled in his auditions for ESPN and Fox. Sources from both networks were blown away by Griffin; some said Griffin’s was among the top tryouts they have ever viewed,” Marchand wrote. “ESPN’s offer contains a greater volume of opportunities than Fox’s. Griffin would call college games, do some college studio, and talk both college football and NFL on shows such as ‘Get Up!’ during the week, sources said.”
On June 10, Outkick first revealed the news of Griffin interviewing with both outlets, and it will be fascinating to see if the quarterback elects to go into broadcasting full time or not. Obviously, if he does, fans could have something special waiting for them.
Plenty of former players make the move from the field to the broadcast booth with great success, some recent examples including former Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo and Cleveland Browns linebacker Emmanuel Acho. Following Marchand’s report, it seems safe to assume Griffin could be the latest at some point in time.
RG3 Might Not Be Finished Playing
So will Griffin hang up the cleats and move to the broadcast booth with these potential offers in mind? That’s a tough question at this point, seeing as it’s not official that the quarterback will be retiring from the NFL. Baltimore released Griffin just a few days after its AFC Divisional loss to the Buffalo Bills. Griffin had been the backup signal-caller since 2018 and a solid mentor to 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. At this point, however, it’s clear Baltimore preferred to go with youth in their quarterback room for the foreseeable future with Trace McSorley.
Still, Griffin might elect to play football if the right chance comes. Much like former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, he could simply audition and never end up taking his talents to television if he wants to stay involved in the game.
Griffin Redefined His Career After 2013 ACL Tear
Griffin has long been a player who helped redefine the quarterback position for newcomers like Jackson, given his athleticism and speed, ability to move the pocket and extend plays down the field. Through seven seasons, he has accumulated 9,271 passing yards and 43 touchdowns to go along with 1,809 rushing yards and 10 scores on the ground.
Griffin began his career in Washington, winning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and his lone Pro Bowl selection in 2012. Injuries began to derail him a bit in his sophomore campaign, suffering his second torn ACL in four years, followed by a six-game absence for an ankle dislocation in 2014 and an 11-game absence for a left shoulder fracture in 2016. That year, the former Baylor star joined Cleveland for a season before latching on as a backup quarterback for the last three years in Baltimore where the mentorship role served him well.
Griffin was a special player in terms of his veteran leadership with the Ravens and it will be interesting to see if those skills translate to the broadcast booth, should he elect to do that.
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