Robert Griffin III is keeping his options open after his unexpected departure from ESPN, indicating that he’s not ruling out a return to sports media with another major network. The former NFL quarterback, who transitioned into a media personality, spoke candidly about his split from ESPN during appearances on both “The Jim Rome Show” and “The Rich Eisen Show,” where he also shared his thoughts on the future.
Despite the abrupt end to his tenure at ESPN, Griffin remains optimistic about continuing his career in sports media. He plans to keep producing his podcast, “Outta Pocket with RGIII,” and emphasized the importance of owning his content moving forward. Griffin made it clear that he holds no ill will toward ESPN and is open to working with other “legacy media” outlets.
“If you don’t own anything, then you’re always going to be a slave to something else. I just want to make sure that we own what we’re doing, we have a good time doing it,” Griffin told Rome, as reported by Awful Announcing. “As far as legacy media goes, I’ve got no bad blood with legacy media. But there could be teams at Fox, NBC, CBS, Amazon, Netflix, or anywhere else that I would enjoy working with as well. I’m not gonna close the door on anything.”
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Griffin’s departure from ESPN on August 15, along with Sam Ponder, came as a shock to many. The move was reportedly part of a broader budgetary decision by the network. While Griffin wasn’t able to discuss the specifics of his firing, he did reveal that ESPN will continue to pay his seven-figure salary until the end of his contract, which has two years remaining, unless another network buys out the deal.
During his conversation with Rich Eisen, Griffin expressed surprise at the decision, noting that he had already been assigned a production team for his college football coverage duties for the upcoming season. Despite the unexpected turn of events, Griffin spoke positively about his time at ESPN.
“I loved the experience at ESPN,” Griffin said. “I’ll miss the people there that I got a chance to work with, and I wish them the best moving forward. For me, and what the future holds, it’s just whatever God has in store for me. I’m just going to keep walking by faith and not by sight and continue to cover the game the way I know how to—with excitement and enthusiasm. That is just me being my true, authentic self. There is no act here. I’m always gonna be that guy.”
Griffin joined ESPN in 2021 and quickly became a popular figure, particularly for his insightful and energetic analysis. However, his role at the network shifted earlier this year when he was removed from “Monday Night Countdown” after ESPN brought on Jason Kelce to its roster of talent.
As Griffin looks ahead, he remains focused on his next steps in the media landscape. With his positive attitude and unwavering commitment to authenticity, it’s clear that he is ready for whatever opportunities come his way, whether that means joining another major network or continuing to build his brand independently.
For now, Griffin is keeping his options open and staying true to the passion and energy that have defined his post-NFL career.
