Robert Griffin III Admits ESPN Chastised Him After Inappropriate On-Air Joke During Game

The former Baylor quarterback went a little too far in Oct. 2022.

Over the last three years, former Baylor Bears and NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III has won high marks for his work on ESPN. Griffin's obvious enthusiasm in the booth and high football IQ—in addition, it must be noted, to his name recognition—have garnered him prestigious assignments in both the college and pro ranks.

It would be easy for Griffin to button himself up with his TV future seemingly secure, but he has shown no sign of doing so. Here is a man, after all, who split his pants diving into Lake Washington before the Washington Huskies‘ win over the Boise State Broncos on Sept. 2—and one that enjoys the occasional ribald joke.

Griffin, a rising star at ESPN, may have pushed things a bit far with some on-air jokes during a Stanford-Oregon State game last season :: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

On Friday morning, Griffin revealed to Kay Adams of FanDuel that one such joke landed him in trouble in Oct. 2022.

"We had this game for Oregon State,” Griffin explained. “I’m calling the game, and it’s Oregon State against Stanford. ... Early in the game, I’m like, ‘Let’s see how much wood these Beavers can take.’” 

.@RGIII on getting in trouble with ESPN after calling a game 😭@heykayadams pic.twitter.com/CujT5oJvnV

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) December 22, 2023

That double entendre, a reference to the Stanford Cardinal's tree mascot, did not play well in Bristol, Conn..

“I had like six other borderline things that I said in that game,” Griffin said. “I got a call after that game because it was way too much. It was egregious. It wasn’t like ‘Hey, you’re gonna get fired if you keep doing this.’ But it was like, ‘Hey, you probably shouldn’t keep doing this.’”