Robert Griffin III announces plans to leave retirement and return to the NFL, with teams already showing interest
The 36-year-old insists he could operate in any offense despite not playing professionally since 2020
Six years away from the NFL have done little to diminish Robert Griffin III 's confidence in his ability to play quarterback, and the former Offensive Rookie of the Year believes a return could still become reality. Now working as a FOX Sports analyst, Griffin has spent years studying the league from a different perspective - and he believes that experience has helped him develop the knowledge he lacked during his playing career.
The 36-year-old revealed that he has discussed a potential comeback with NFL teams, although he stopped short of identifying the organizations involved, and offered an emphatic answer that suggested he has few concerns about adapting to the modern game. "Any of them," Griffin said to the Dan Patrick Show. "Yeah. I mean, right now, at this point in my life, with the amount of film I’ve had to watch, with the amount of growth I’ve made, you know, understanding the game, what the game needs, what you can’t do, what you have to do. Yeah, I can play in any system." His confidence comes from the extensive film study required for his broadcasting responsibilities, which he believes has sharpened his ability to recognize defenses and understand offensive concepts. However, he is not prepared to abandon a successful media career simply to generate attention or pursue an opportunity that does not make sense. "I’m not going to sacrifice that just to try to make headlines," Griffin added. "I can still throw a football and read a defense and have fun doing it, Dan. If they want me to go do it, they’ve got to, you know, I guess, pony up and make that happen." His comments follow repeated suggestions that he would consider returning, including a recent social media post claiming his daughters wanted to watch him play football again.
Griffin’s injuries transformed one of the NFL's brightest careers
Griffin entered professional football with enormous expectations after winning the 2011 Heisman Trophy at the Baylor Bears in the NCAA , before being selected second overall in the 2012 NFL Draft behind Andrew Luck . His spectacular rookie campaign with the Washington Redskins earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, establishing him as one of the league's most exciting young quarterbacks. However, a serious knee injury during a playoff defeat against the Seattle Seahawks marked the beginning of a difficult period that significantly altered his career and effectively ended it. Further setbacks followed before the quarterback eventually joined the Cleveland Browns and later became a backup with the Baltimore Ravens , where he made his final NFL appearance in 2020. Griffin has previously questioned why struggling teams have overlooked experienced quarterbacks, arguing that veterans can provide stability when injuries disrupt a team's plans and has also showed an interest in representing the United States in flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics . Although Griffin says conversations with NFL organizations have taken place, there has been no confirmation of a formal offer or an agreement with any team.
