ESPN Star Addresses Robert Griffin III Firing Amid Speculation

ESPN personality Paul Finebaum said he "had no idea" why former NFL quarterback turned analyst Robert Griffin III was fired on Friday (August 16) after presumably being referenced by the quarterback online.

“Everybody always thinks that people that sit in chairs like this don’t ever want to comment on it,” Finebaum said during a live segment of the Paul Finebaum Show when asked by a caller about Griffin's termination. “I mean, I’ve got strong opinions on a lot of people I work with, and some of them might blow you away.

“… If I had some insight, I would be happy to share it with you. I know him. I know him pretty well and he was completely different than most of the paint-by-number analysts.”

Griffin's firing occurred two days after the former Heisman Trophy winner appeared to call out Finebaum for "cheap shots" of Florida State during a segment on First Take earlier that day.

Finebaum had previously said he thought FSU "used up too many tears crying about not getting in the" College Football Playoff last season.

"Anyone who is throwing shade at or trying to take cheap shots at Florida State for being left out of the College Football Playoff last year must be out of touch with reality," Griffin wrote in a lengthy X post days prior to his termination.

Griffin and Sunday NFL Countdown host Sam Ponder were both included in the latest round of ESPN firings involving on-air talent due to financial reasons, the Athletic 's Andrew Marchand reported on Friday. The former Heisman Trophy winner was reportedly strongly considered for ESPN 's No. 2 college football game analyst last season, which instead went to Greg McElroy and had been demoted from Monday Night Countdown pregame show following the hiring of former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce as his replacement.

FOX Sports had previously shown interest in Griffin throughout his broadcasting career, which included considering him as a successor to fellow former Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush on Big Noon Kickoff , a role that went to fellow Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram II .