Another Football Pro Joins Broadcast Booth

A former number two overall draft pick in the NFL is now giving broadcasting a stint. In a report first broken by ESPN, the network announced that former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III is signing a multi-year deal to work as an analyst for college and NFL football.

Broadcasting is not necessarily something new for Griffin, however, as he once served as a guest analyst on NFL Live in 2017.

For someone well-versed in college football knowledge, Griffin is excited to work in the broadcast booth.

“College football has always been an integral part of my life, first as a kid watching it, then as a young man playing it,” he said. “Some of my greatest sports memories come from my collegiate days surrounded by the pageantry, the traditions and the passion of the fans. College football is life-changing for many and I will always look back on my time playing it with tremendous gratitude.”

Sometimes, college football can contain so much information that a person can instantaneously be blown away. For Griffin, he hopes to ease that pressure and attract more casual fans.

And for the 2012 number two overall pick, this will be a new experience for the game he loves.

“Knowing how much the game football helps shape lives, and understanding the aspects of the commitment it entails, is why I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join ESPN for both college and NFL programming,” Griffin said.

And the network is excited to have him join the team as well. One particular member of the brass knows he will bring a lot to the table.

“Robert has been on our radar for a while and we expect him to make an immediate impact on our college and NFL coverage,” senior vice president of production Lee Fitting said. “His knowledge of the game, his fresh-off-the-field insights and his charisma make him uniquely positioned to move into this new role, and we are particularly excited to have him call a big college game every week.”

In 2018, 2019, and 2020, Griffin served as the primary backup to the meteoric rise of Lamar Jackson on the Baltimore Ravens QB depth chart. After a thrilling rookie season in 2012 with the Washington Football Team that saw him earn the only Pro Bowl appearance of his career, injuries derailed the hype and he was never truly the same.

Griffin did note on Twitter Thursday that he is “Still ready to play,” but he is excited for the opportunity to join ESPN in the broadcast booth. There is a clause associated with the deal that involves giving the 31-year-old another shot to play in the NFL.

According to Chase Goodbread of NFL.com, “Griffin will have a clause in his contract that will allow him to renew his NFL career if the opportunity arises, (Ian) Rapoport added. He started just one game for the Baltimore Ravens in each of the last two seasons.”

Robert Griffin III always loved playing the game of football. For now, at least, he will write the next chapter of his football life as a broadcaster for ESPN. But don’t rule out another opportunity for the 31-year-old to play on an NFL gridiron again and rekindle some old magic from his rookie season in 2012.