Robert Griffin III (RG3) came into the NFL in 2012 as one of the most electrifying prospects to ever enter the draft.
The dual-threat quarterback with insane track level 4.38 40-yard dash speed put Baylor on the map, capping off his final collegiate season by winning college football’s ultimate prize, the Heisman Trophy.
Griffin threw for 4,293 yards and 37 touchdowns with 699 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing in 2011, which prompted the Washington Commanders (formerly the Redskins) to make a massive trade to move up in the NFL Draft to get him
Washington traded three first round picks to the St. Louis Rams to select RG3 — and after an electric rookie regular season — it appeared to be the right move.
From the opening victory over the New Orleans Saints, it was apparent Washington had found the franchise QB it had been seeking for so long.
RG3 led Washington to seven-game winning streak that secured an NFC East division title. During that span, he threw four touchdowns in a win over the Eagles on Nov. 18. He matched that performance just four days later on Thanksgiving in a win over the Cowboys. In those two games combined, Griffin throws eight touchdowns and just one interception, also recording 113 yards rushing.
On Dec. 9 Robert Griffin III suffered an apparent knee injury but was cleared to keep playing,
Then came the Wildcard game against the Seattle Seahawks. Griffin and Washington were clicking early, but the franchise QB went down with a knee injury in the first half and was diagnosed with a torn ACL and MCL. Washington ended up losing that game.
Griffin was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2012, but that playoff injury ended up changing the trajectory of his entire NFL career.
RG3 Reveals The Biggest Regret Of His NFL Career
After surgery and a full offseason to heal, Griffin claimed he was ready to roll when the 2013 season rolled around.
But suddenly the explosive, dynamic dual-threat QB looked like a shell of himself and Washington started (0-3).
On Oct. 27, he suffered another injury, this time to his left knee. He was replaced by Kirk Cousins, but surprisingly returned the next game.
But RG3 continued to look off and not even close to fully healthy and was ultimately benched for Cousins on Dec. 11, 2013.
Robert Griffin III recently opened up about the biggest regret of his NFL career and his answer went hand and hand with the decision to play the 2013 season.
“I would say the biggest regret of my NFL career is probably playing in 2013,” the former Washington QB said. “I tore my ACL in the playoffs after the 2012 season against the Seattle Seahawks, Coming back and playing that season, pretty much 7-8 months removed from tearing not only my ACL, but also my LCL and also my meniscus in my knee, is something that I don’t think I should have done.”
RG3 then caught himself and corrected his statement.
The biggest regret of my career was playing in 2013. After my injury in the playoffs against the Seahawks, I was All in for Week 1 because I wanted to be out there with my teammates. Every player when given the option to fight or flight chooses to fight. It’s what we do. But in… pic.twitter.com/151zUZmd5s
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 24, 2024
“I don’t want to say that, I know I shouldn’t have played that year. But when you’re a player and you’re in fight or flight mode, you’re always going to choose to fight. Despite going back and looking at the film and understanding I was nowhere near 100 percent, sometimes we want something so bad that we are willing to hurt ourselves for it.
When you’re 23 years old and you have no professional experience, it’s very hard to make those decisions when all you want to do is play the game.”
This was a refreshing admission from RG3 who was never able to capture the magic of his rookie season and ended his career as a backup for the Baltimore Ravens. Griffin has found a new calling as one of the rising stars in sports media as an analyst for ESPN.
