Robert Griffin III was looking to give his fans answers days after being fired from ESPN.
On Thursday, it was reported that Griffin and Sunday NFL Countdown host Samantha Ponder have been fired as the network nears the conclusion of its fiscal year at the end of September.
Three days after being relieved of his duties, the NFL analyst took to social media to thank his fan base for their support and hint at transparency regarding his firing.
“As I sit here with my family on this beautiful day, we are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from you over the past 72 hours.” wrote in X.
“YOU ARE THE ABSOLUTE BEST.”
Robert Griffin offers ‘answers’ in statement following his firing from ESPN on Thursday
Griffin was fired by the network after three years of working as an NFL analyst.
“Your support means the world to us and I can’t wait to connect with you guys directly about it all,” Griffin continued. “I’ll be sitting down to chat with YOU soon, so make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, leave all your questions here and below my latest video and I’ll answer them soon.
“We are honored that you love the way we cover sports, tell stories and celebrate life. As a family, we try to inspire people to do their best every day, but it’s YOU who inspires us to strive even harder. Let’s continue this journey together.”
Griffin was hired by ESPN three years ago after gaining interest from the network and rival FOX Sports.
Last season, he was considered ESPN’s second college football analyst alongside Sean McDonough, but the job went to Greg McElroy.
Griffin expressed gratitude for his time at ESPN, having been fired with two years remaining on his contract.
Samantha Ponder has also been laid off as ESPN nears the end of its fiscal year.
Since then, Griffin’s stock had fallen, making him a prime candidate to be fired. While his seven-figure salary per year will be respected, his role has diminished to such an extent that ESPN decided not to keep him on despite having two years left on his contract.
After news of her firing broke, Griffin posted a clip from the film ‘Friday,’ in which John Witherspoon’s character says, ‘How the hell do you get fired on your day off?’
Hours later, he posted a montage of himself reporting at a Clemson football game and expressed gratitude for his time at ESPN.
“There have been so many amazing experiences and moments that my family and I will never forget over the past 3 years,” Griffin wrote. “What people sometimes don’t realize is that none of this is possible without you, the FANS.
“So a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has supported my family throughout my playing days and broadcasting career thus far. We love you all and will continue to seek and defend the truth while telling athletes’ stories the right way.”
