Source: Gregg DeGuire / Getty / Robert Griffin III
Robert Griffin III wants to keep politics off his favorite sports shows; not everyone agrees.
The former NFL quarterback is getting sacked on social media after sharing his unwanted opinion about politics being discussed on sports shows. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday, he said, “Sports shows on TV should be about sports, not politics.”
Sports shows on TV should be about sports not politics.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 20, 2025
Was Robert Griffin III Responding To Stephen A. Smith?
It’s unclear who the former ESPN analyst was talking to when he made that comment, but it wouldn’t be a stretch to think he was reacting to some political comments his former co-worker Stephen A. Smith made during a recent episode of ESPN First Take.
Stephen A. Smith, who has been in his political bag lately, unfortunately, had some words for Donald Trump and his administration and even challenged Felo 47 to debate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, aka DEI, you know, the MAGA Republicans’ another boogeyman when they are not focused on Transgenedered athletes.
Smith was fuming after the Department of Defense briefly took down an article about legendary professional baseball player, Jackie Robinson and his military career.
“Nobody is calling out the President, Donald Trump. I will,” Smith said. “I’m not gonna call him names and all this stuff like stupid folks on the left are doing. Engaging in incendiary rhetoric. It’s unnecessary, it’s immature and it’s uncalled for. He’s the President of the United States. Treat him with the respect that he deserves. But in the same breath, call him to the carpet for stuff that he’s doing.”
He continued, “When you look at the actions of this administration, and you’re talking about DEI — diversity, equity, and inclusion — and you’re equating that with Black people and you’re using words like ‘unqualified’… Pete Hegseth is the head of the Defense Department. He has served our country with honor. I am not trying to knock him or denigrate him in any way… how is he not DEI? He was a soldier and then he was a a host on Fox News on the weekends and he goes from that to being the head of a Defense Department that oversees more than 3.5 million people.”
Here is my full statement from @FirstTake today on Jackie Robinson pic.twitter.com/v60fK5UAZi
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 20, 2025
X Is Clowning RGIII
The Heisman winner is feeling social media’s wrath after following his initial hot take with another ridiculous post, writing, “This tweet is not about Jackie Robinson. His significance can never and should never be erased. Breaking the color barrier in baseball in itself is not political. Jesse Owens winning 4 Gold Medals in itself was not political. Jack Johnson becoming the 1st Black Boxing Heavyweight Champ in itself was not political. They all had political ramifications. They all challenged the status quo of racial barriers to fair play, race relations, and civil rights. That should always be acknowledged and never forgotten. They shouldn’t be used as an excuse to push political agendas on sports shows on national television to an audience there to consume sports content.”
Former ESPN Sportscenter host Jemele Hill responded to Griffin III on X, writing, “With all due respect, this doesn’t make any sense. Breaking the color barrier in baseball it itself wasn’t political? Segregation was LAW. Making it political. It feels like you’re working way too hard to prove something here.”
With all due respect, this doesn’t make any sense.
Breaking the color barrier in baseball it itself wasn’t political? Segregation was LAW. Making it political.
It feels like you’re working way too hard to prove something here. https://t.co/GCvrcUZvrP
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) March 21, 2025
Others are hilariously saying that Rob Parker, a former ESPN commentator who didn’t get his contract renewed after he questioned RG III’s “Blackness,” was right in doing so.
We all owe Rob Parker an apology. https://t.co/uSKPDDZ3Im
— Colb (@___Colb___) March 20, 2025
RGIII should have just stuck to reminding us he’s married to a white woman. Just saying.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.