Robert Griffin III facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Robert Griffin III

Griffin III in 2022
No. 10, 3
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1990-02-12) February 12, 1990 (age 35) Okinawa, Japan
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	213 lb (97 kg)
Career information
High school:	Copperas Cove (Copperas Cove, Texas)
College:	Baylor (2008–2011)
NFL Draft:	2012 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2
Career history
Washington Redskins (2012) Cleveland Browns (2016) Baltimore Ravens (2018)
Career highlights and awards
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2012) Pro Bowl (2012) PFWA All-Rookie Team (2012) Heisman Trophy (2011) Davey O'Brien Award (2011) Manning Award (2011) AP College Football Player of the Year (2011) SN Player of the Year (2011) Chic Harley Award (2011) Consensus All-American (2011) Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (2011) Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2008) First-team All-Big 12 (2011) Second-team All-Big 12 (2010)
Career NFL statistics
Passing attempts: 1,268 Passing completions: 799 Completion percentage: 63% TD–INT: 43–30 Passing yards: 9,271 Passer rating: 86.5 Rushing yards: 1,809 Rushing touchdowns: 10
Player stats at PFR

Robert Lee Griffin III (born February 12, 1990), known as RGIII or RG3, is a former American football quarterback. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. He is best known for his time with the Washington Redskins.

Before joining the NFL, Griffin played college football for the Baylor Bears. He won the famous Heisman Trophy in his senior year. The Washington Redskins chose him as the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

In his first year in the NFL, Griffin set new records for rookie quarterbacks. He led the Redskins to win their division for the first time since 1999. Because of his great performance, he was named Offensive Rookie of the Year and was chosen for the Pro Bowl.

After a serious knee injury in the playoffs, Griffin found it hard to play as well as he did before. He lost his starting spot in 2015. He later played for the Cleveland Browns in 2016, but injuries also affected his time there. After a year without a team, he joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2018. He played his last three seasons as a backup player.

Robert Griffin III's Early Life

Robert Griffin III was born in Okinawa, Japan. His parents, Robert Griffin Jr. and Jacqueline, were both U.S. Army sergeants stationed there. His family later lived in Tacoma, Washington, and then in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1997, his family settled in Copperas Cove, Texas, after his parents retired from the military.

What Was Robert Griffin III's High School Sports Career Like?

Griffin went to Copperas Cove High School in Texas. He was a star athlete in three sports: basketball, football, and track. He played quarterback for two seasons.

In his junior year, he threw for 2,001 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also ran for 876 yards and 8 touchdowns. As a senior, he ran for 1,285 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also passed for 1,356 yards and 16 touchdowns. His team finished with a 13–2 record but lost in the championship game. In total, he rushed for 2,161 yards and 32 touchdowns, and passed for 3,357 yards and 41 touchdowns.

How Did Robert Griffin III Do in Track and Field?

In track, Griffin broke Texas state records in hurdles. He ran the 110-meter hurdles in 13.55 seconds and the 300-meter hurdles in 35.33 seconds. His 300 hurdles time was very close to the national high school record.

He also won gold medals in hurdles on the AAU track and field circuit. In 2007, he was ranked the No. 1 high school 400-meter hurdler in the country. He was also tied for No. 1 in the 110-meter sprint hurdles. His best time in the 400-meter hurdles was 49.22 seconds in 2008.

Which Colleges Wanted Robert Griffin III?

Rivals.com, a service that ranks high school athletes, called Griffin the fourth-best dual-threat quarterback in the nation for 2008. Many colleges wanted him, including Stanford, Tennessee, and Oregon.

Griffin first decided to play for Houston. But when his coach, Art Briles, moved to Baylor, Griffin changed his mind. He chose Baylor because it also had a great track and field program.

Robert Griffin III's College Career

Griffin finished high school early and started at Baylor University when he was 17. He was a member of Baylor's track and field team. He won first place in the 400-meter hurdles at the Big 12 Conference Championship. He also competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Griffin earned a bachelor's degree in political science in three years. He had a high GPA and was on the dean's list twice. Later, he studied for a master's degree in communications.

What Happened in the 2008 College Season?

As a new player (true freshman) for the Bears, Griffin was named Big 12 Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year. He started 11 out of 12 games. In his first college game, he passed for 125 yards and ran for a touchdown.

He helped his team upset the Texas A&M Aggies with 241 passing yards and two touchdowns. The team finished the season with 4 wins and 8 losses.

What Happened in the 2009 College Season?

Griffin III playing for Baylor in 2009

Griffin had to sit out most of the 2009 season. He tore a ligament in his knee (ACL) during the third game against Northwestern State.

Baylor finished this season with 4 wins and 8 losses.

What Happened in the 2010 College Season?

Griffin was given a "redshirt" year, which means he didn't use a year of his college eligibility due to injury. So, he entered the 2010 season as a sophomore. He finished the season with 3,501 passing yards and 22 passing touchdowns. He also ran for 635 yards and 8 rushing touchdowns.

Baylor finished the season with 7 wins and 6 losses.

What Happened in the 2011 College Season?

Before the 2011 season, most people didn't expect the Baylor Bears to do well. But they started strong against 15th-ranked TCU. Griffin played amazingly, passing for 359 yards and 5 touchdowns. Baylor won a close game, 50–48.

After this win, Baylor entered the national rankings, and Griffin became a top candidate for the Heisman Trophy. He continued to play well, leading Baylor to a 10–3 record. This included a high-scoring 67–56 win over the Washington Huskies in the Alamo Bowl. This game had the most points ever in a regulation college bowl game.

Griffin won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first player from Baylor to receive this honor. On January 11, 2012, Griffin announced he would enter the 2012 NFL draft.

Robert Griffin III's College Statistics

What Awards Did Robert Griffin III Win in College?

• 2011 Heisman Trophy winner
• 2011 Associated Press College Football Player of the Year
• 2011 Davey O'Brien Award winner
• 2011 Manning Award winner
• 2011 Consensus All-American (meaning he was recognized by most major selectors)
• 2008 Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year
• 2008 Big 12 gold medalist (400 m hurdles)
• 2008 Track & Field All-American (400 m hurdles)

What Records Did Robert Griffin III Set at Baylor?

Griffin set or tied many records at Baylor University:

• Most rushing yards by a freshman: 843 (2008)
• Most rushing yards by a quarterback: 843 (2008)
• Most passing yards in a season: 4,293 (2011)
• Most touchdown passes in a season: 37 (2011)
• Highest passing efficiency rating in a season: 189.5 (2011)
• Highest completion percentage in a season: 72.4 (2011)
• Most total offense in a season: 4,992 (2011)
• Most career passing yards: 10,366
• Most career touchdown passes: 78
• Most career total offense: 12,620
• Most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback: 23

Robert Griffin III's Professional Career

How Was Robert Griffin III Drafted into the NFL?

Griffin (center) posing with two Marines at the 2012 NFL draft.

Before his junior year, Griffin was not seen as a top draft pick. But by the end of that season, NFL scouts started to notice him. Many thought he would be the second quarterback chosen in the 2012 NFL draft, after Andrew Luck.

The St. Louis Rams had the second pick but already had a starting quarterback. So, they traded their pick to the Washington Redskins. The Redskins gave up several high draft picks over three years to get Griffin. On July 18, 2012, Griffin officially signed a four-year contract with the Redskins.

What Happened in Robert Griffin III's 2012 NFL Season?

Griffin during Redskins training camp in 2012

The Redskins chose Griffin as the second overall pick, as expected. He wore number 10 with "Griffin III" on his jersey. This made him the first player in major sports to have a Roman numeral on his jersey.

On September 9, 2012, Griffin became the first NFL starting quarterback born in the 1990s. In his first game, he completed 19 of 26 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 42 yards. The Redskins won 40–32 against the New Orleans Saints. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his amazing debut. He also won NFL Rookie of the Week three times and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month in September.

In Week 14, Griffin hurt his right knee. He left the game but returned later. He then re-injured his knee in the playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. He had surgery on January 9 to repair two ligaments in his knee.

Despite the injury, Griffin had a fantastic rookie season. He set records for the highest passer rating by a rookie quarterback (102.4) and the best touchdown-to-interception ratio (4:1). He helped the Redskins win their last seven games to make the playoffs. He was chosen for the 2013 Pro Bowl but could not play due to his injury. He also won the 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

What Happened in Robert Griffin III's 2013 NFL Season?

Griffin on a read-option run during a game against the Eagles in 2013

Griffin played in the season opener, but he struggled to match his success from 2012. In Week 7, he led the Redskins to a 45–41 win against the Chicago Bears. He passed for 298 yards and two touchdowns.

Later in the season, his coach decided to keep him out of the last three games to prevent more injuries. He finished the 2013 season with 3,203 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also ran for 489 yards.

What Happened in Robert Griffin III's 2014 NFL Season?

Griffin in 2014

In Week 2 of the 2014 season, Griffin suffered a dislocated left ankle. He returned in Week 9 but the Redskins lost their next three games. He was later benched for another quarterback.

After another injury to the starting quarterback, Griffin returned and showed flashes of his rookie form. He led the Redskins to a 27–24 victory over the Eagles. In the final game, he threw for a season-high 336 yards and had two touchdowns. He finished the season with 2 wins and 5 losses as a starter.

What Happened in Robert Griffin III's 2015 NFL Season?

During the 2015 preseason, Griffin suffered a concussion. He was cleared to play but then later declared not ready. This led to another quarterback becoming the starter.

Griffin ended up as the third-string quarterback and did not play in any regular-season games. On March 7, 2016, the Redskins released him from the team.

What Happened with the Cleveland Browns?

Griffin with the Browns in 2016

On March 24, 2016, Griffin signed a two-year contract with the Cleveland Browns. He was named the team's starting quarterback for the 2016 season. However, he suffered a shoulder injury in the first game and was placed on injured reserve.

He returned later in the season and played in five games. He completed 87 passes for 886 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. He also ran for 190 yards and two touchdowns. On March 10, 2017, the Browns released Griffin.

What Happened with the Baltimore Ravens?

Griffin with the Baltimore Ravens, 2020

After not playing in 2017, Griffin signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens on April 4, 2018. He was the team's backup quarterback. He appeared in three games in 2018.

He re-signed with the Ravens for two more years in 2019. In Week 17 of 2019, Griffin started a game because the Ravens rested their main players for the playoffs. He threw for 96 yards and ran for 50 yards in a 28–10 win.

In 2020, Griffin started another game due to the main quarterback being sick. He injured his hamstring during the game. He was later placed on injured reserve and was released by the Ravens in January 2021.

Robert Griffin III's Life After Playing Football

What Does Robert Griffin III Do as an Analyst?

In August 2021, Griffin signed a contract with ESPN. He became an analyst, which means he talks about college football and NFL games on TV. He has said he still wants to play football if a team offers him a chance.

Does Robert Griffin III Have a Podcast?

In September 2023, Griffin started his own podcast series on YouTube called "RG3 and The Ones." On his podcast, he interviews people involved with the NFL.

Robert Griffin III's NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season Games

Playoff Games

Robert Griffin III's Personal Life

Griffin married Rebecca Liddicoat on July 6, 2013. They had a daughter in 2015. In August 2016, they separated and began the process of divorce.

Also in August 2016, Griffin started dating Grete Šadeiko, an athlete from Estonia. They got engaged in May 2017. In 2017, Griffin announced the birth of his second daughter. He and Grete married on March 10, 2018. His third daughter was born in September 2019. In December 2022, his fourth child was born.

Griffin was a fan of the Denver Broncos and coach Mike Shanahan growing up. He later played for Shanahan with the Redskins. Griffin is a Christian and has said his faith is very important to him.

Before his first NFL season, Griffin signed many endorsement deals. These were with companies like Adidas, Gatorade, and Subway. He earned a lot of money from these deals, more than any other rookie before him.

Griffin has his own charity called the RGIII Foundation. It helps young people who need support, military families, and victims of domestic violence. In December 2022, his foundation gave a shopping spree to 25 kids in his hometown. They also donated 10,500 meals to a food bank in 2021.

See also

In Spanish: Robert Griffin III para niños