Report: ESPN firing football analyst, former Baylor QB Robert Griffin III

ESPN has fired football analyst and commentator Robert Griffin III, according to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand. A reason for Griffin’s firing is not yet known.

Griffin had two years remaining in his contract, according to the report. Griffin was hired by the sports broadcasting giant in 2021 and was widely viewed at the time as a rising star in the industry.

Griffin served as a regular college football color commentator and analyst for the network and briefly worked on NFL pregame programming, like “Monday Night Countdown.”

Marchand noted — along with reporting that ESPN host Sam Ponder was also being jettisoned by the network — that the moves were being made by the network to cut costs as its fiscal year ends. Griffin and Ponder are the only expected departures at this time, Marchand added.

Griffin also didn’t shy away from making controversial statements while employed by ESPN, both on social media and from time-to-time on air, though it never appeared that he was disciplined formally for anything that he had said.

In recent years, Griffin was considered by FOX to replace Reggie Bush on college football coverage like Big Noon Kickoff, but the network opted to hire Mark Ingram, instead, Marchand reported.

Griffin was a star at Baylor from 2008 to 2011, and was especially dominant in his final two season. He won the Heisman during the 2011 season when he amassed 4992 total yards and 47 total touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions. Griffin was then drafted No. 2 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft by Washington, where he career got off to a stellar start, winning offensive rookie of the year in 2012 before injuries derailed it.

His time in Washington also led to an ongoing dispute with former head coach Jay Gruden, a spat that’s been indicative of Griffin’s willingness to dive headfirst into a dispute or controversy and share his opinion.

And Griffin seemingly isn’t taking the news overly hard. Shortly after Marchand reported ESPN was cutting him loose, Griffin posted some analysis of the recent trade sending edge rusher Matt Judon from New England to Atlanta.

“Matthew Judon is JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED for the [Falcons],” Griffin said on social media, without having acknowledged the news. “He had 12+ sacks in 2 of the last 3 years and 4 sacks in 4 games played last year. The Falcons were 21st in sacks and 27th in ints last year. Judon will make them improve in both IMMEDIATELY. Love this trade.”