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| Robert Griffin III | |
|---|---|
| Name | Robert Griffin III |
| Number | 10, 7 |
| Position | Quarterback |
| Birth date | 12 February 1990 |
| Birth place | Wichita Falls, Texas |
| Weight lb | 218 |
| High school | Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas) |
| College | Baylor |
| Draftyear | 2012 |
| Pastteams | Washington Redskins (2012–2015); Cleveland Browns (2016); Baltimore Ravens (2018, offseason); Arlington Renegades (2022–2023) |
| Highlights | Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (2011); Heisman Trophy (2011); NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2012); Pro Bowl (2012) |
Robert Griffin III is an American former professional quarterback who played in the National Football League and alternative professional leagues after a decorated collegiate career. He won the Heisman Trophy as a quarterback at Baylor University and was selected second overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. Griffin's early success, athleticism, and subsequent injuries generated widespread discussion across sports media and among analysts at outlets such as ESPN, Fox Sports, and NFL Network.
Griffin was born in Wichita Falls, Texas and raised in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, attending Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas. At Southlake Carroll he excelled in multiple sports including football, baseball, basketball, and track, attracting recruiting attention from programs such as Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma. During his high school career he led Southlake Carroll to state playoff appearances and earned all-state honors, while sharing the field with teammates who progressed to NCAA Division I and professional ranks.
At Baylor University, Griffin became a focal point of the Baylor Bears football's rise in the Big 12 Conference. Under head coaches Art Briles and offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin, he developed into a dual-threat quarterback, culminating in a record-setting senior season that earned him the Heisman Trophy, Davey O'Brien Award, and Walter Camp Award. Griffin's collegiate tenure included prolific passing performances against Big 12 opponents like Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, as well as bowl appearances that elevated Baylor's national profile and influenced NFL Draft projections ahead of the 2012 draft.
Selected second overall by the Washington Redskins in the 2012 NFL Draft, Griffin produced a standout rookie campaign, earning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and a Pro Bowl berth while leading the Redskins to postseason contention. Griffin's mobility and playmaking drew comparisons to quarterbacks such as Cam Newton, and he featured prominently on national broadcasts on NBC Sports and CBS Sports. In 2013, injuries including a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered during a playoff-related period and subsequent knee rehabilitation impacted his trajectory, leading to quarterback controversies involving veterans like Kirk Cousins and strategic decisions by Redskins head coaches Mike Shanahan and Jay Gruden. Griffin later had brief stints with the Cleveland Browns and offseason tenure with the Baltimore Ravens before joining alternative leagues, including the XFL's Arlington franchise, where he contributed to the league's revival and later championship run under coach Bob Stoops. His professional timeline intersected with collective bargaining developments overseen by the NFL Players Association and attracted analysis from commentators at The Athletic and Sports Illustrated.
Griffin's playing style combined explosive speed, improvisational running, and play-action passing rooted in pro-style and spread concepts employed at Baylor. Analysts at outlets such as Pro Football Focus and ESPN highlighted his passer rating metrics, rushing yards, and situational efficiency early in his career. His rookie season is often cited in discussions of quarterback durability, concussion protocols influenced by the NFL concussion settlement era, and the evolution of dual-threat quarterbacks alongside players like Russell Wilson and Michael Vick. Griffin's legacy includes debates within front offices of teams like the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants about drafting mobile quarterbacks, and his college-to-pro pathway is studied in scouting reports produced by NFL Scouts Inc. and CBS Sports.
Griffin is married and has family roots in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Off the field, he has made media appearances on programs such as Good Morning America and participated in interviews with journalists from The New York Times and ESPN The Magazine. He has also been involved with former teammates and coaches across franchises including the Washington Redskins alumni network, the Cleveland Browns organization, and collegiate allies at Baylor University.
Griffin established philanthropic initiatives and partnered with organizations such as local chapters of United Way and youth-focused programs in Texas. He has hosted football camps and community events drawing support from regional sponsors and alumni networks from Southlake Carroll High School and Baylor University. Griffin's community efforts have been recognized at team events organized by the Washington Redskins and charitable drives coordinated with the NFL Players Association.
Category:American football quarterbacks Category:Baylor Bears football players Category:Heisman Trophy winners Category:National Football League first-round draft picks