The NFL has always been among the most physically demanding sports. Given the constant contact and the very nature of the game, injuries are an inevitability. As a part and parcel of the product, it is an accepted reality.
However, from time to time, players are unceremoniously put into more risky positions than they should. Sometimes, they walk away unscathed. But other times, like Robert Griffin III found out firsthand, it can derail their entire career.
Robert Griffin III Isn’t Over His Injury
Initially not seen as a superstar prospect, Griffin established himself over the course of his junior year. Eventually, he was the consensus second-best player and quarterback in the 2012 NFL Draft, behind the legendary Andrew Luck.
The Washington Redskins, after trading three first-round picks to acquire him, drafted him with the second overall pick and immediately elevated him to the starting position. The move proved to be fruitful, as he put together one of the best rookie campaigns in NFL history.
Leading them to a Divisional Title, he earned a Pro Bowl selection while also being named the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Throwing for over 3,200 yards and rushing for an additional 800+, he set the all-time rookie record for passer rating as well as touchdown-to-interception ratio.
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However, the year ended in heartbreak, as he was sent out to face the vaunted Seattle Seahawks defense in the playoffs, despite suffering from an injury that had already caused him to miss a game.
Now, nearly 14 years later, Griffin is speaking out against the franchise. In a video he posted directly on X, the superstar dual-threat quarterback dusted off his old Redskins jersey as he pretended to sit down for a documentary-style interview on his injury.
Captioning it, “The day that changed my career forever,” the video also took a clear shot at Washington. A message on it read: “Preparing for my Netflix documentary about why they kept running me when I had only 1 leg against Seattle in 2012.”
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The implication was obvious, as it rehashed the infamous USA Today report from January 6, 2013. The report made it clear that Dr. James Andrews hadn’t given Griffin the green light to return to action after his initial injury.
That stood in direct opposition to what head coach Mike Shanahan had alleged after the game. To make matters worse, the former Heisman Trophy winner worsened his injuries, leading to a surgery to repair both his LCL and ACL in the offseason.
From that point forward, Griffin could never reclaim his form again. As a result, he was eventually released by the Redskins before he joined the Cleveland Browns. After one injury-shortened season with the organization, he was once again released before he ended his career as a backup with the Baltimore Ravens.
It was an unbelievable fall from grace for one of the most dynamic quarterbacks to ever step foot on the gridiron. And, as Griffin alleges, the blame falls squarely on the Redskins organization for risking his career in such a way.
