Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III took to X/Twitter to break his silence on his surprise firing from ESPN.
On Thursday, Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported that the Worldwide Leader in Sports fired Robert Griffin III and Sam Ponder in cost-cutting moves. Both were making “more than seven figures”, with the former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback having two years remaining on his deal.
Taking to social media, Griffin decided to show some humor over the disappointing news. He shared a GIF of John Witherspoon’s character from the 1995 hit film “Friday”, asking how one can be fired on their day off:
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 15, 2024
Robert Griffin III had faced an uncertain future at ESPN following the network’s hiring of Philadelphia Eagles legend Jason Kelce, who was named RG3’s replacement on their “Monday Night Countdown” program.
There are people in your circle saying they want you to win, but doing everything they can to make you lose. Don’t be afraid to cut people off when they keep handing you the scissors.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 15, 2024
Griffin III joined ESPN in the summer of 2021, months after the Baltimore Ravens waived him. He worked on ESPN’s “NFL Live” and “Monday Night Countdown” during his three-year run there, receiving praise for his humble personality and sharp analysis.
But ESPN and other major outlets like CBS, NBC and FOX Sports have all seen several notable talents come and go over the past two years. FS1 just parted ways with Skip Bayless, who also faces an uncertain future in the broadcasting industry.
Before his career as an analyst commenced, Griffin was an NFL quarterback from 2012 to 2021. He led Washington to a surprise NFC East division crown in his rookie year, taking home OROY honors.
Robert Griffin III Should Find A New Gig Before Long
ESPN has conducted a long list of notable talent cuts dating back to last summer, and both RG3 and Ponder were the latest unfortunate victims of this trend.
Griffin also has a strong following on his “RG3 and The Ones” podcast, so other media outlets should take note of that and consider adding him to their roster. ESPN decided they didn’t need RG3 anymore, but he would be a valuable addition to another network.