Robert Griffin III says he will ‘always’ root for Washington Commanders

Robert Griffin III said he will “always” be a fan of the Washington Commanders, praising the organization and its supporters even after an abrupt end to his playing tenure in the nation’s capital.

Griffin, the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner who was taken No. 2 overall in the 2012 NFL draft behind Andrew Luck, told Fox News Digital he felt a lasting affinity for the franchise despite injuries and later departures. "I root for the Washington Commanders because no matter what happened, the Washington Redskins, Football Team, Commanders changed my life forever. And the fans changed my life forever," he said. "I love them, they’ve shown love to me and I appreciate them. From that standpoint, I'll always be a Washington Commander fan, and I'm rooting for Jayden Daniels."

Griffin’s early NFL career was meteoric: after a standout season at Baylor he earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and quickly became the centerpiece of Washington’s offense. His trajectory shifted after he tore his ACL in a playoff game; he started just 20 more games with the franchise before moving on to the Cleveland Browns and later the Baltimore Ravens. Griffin retired from the NFL following the 2020 season.

The organization Griffin once led has undergone several changes since his departure, including new ownership and multiple rebrandings from the Redskins to the Football Team and now the Commanders. Despite those shifts, Griffin described his bond with the fans and the city as enduring and said he was in the Washington area recently to give back to the community.

Griffin partnered with USAA on the insurer’s Positive Steps program during the visit, emphasizing outreach to military families. The quarterback, the son of two military veterans, highlighted the sacrifices of service members and said supporting military communities is a personal priority. "Military families, military brats in the military community are often forgotten about, but these are people that are sacrificing everything for this country," he said. He noted his parents served 21 and 13 years, respectively, and said their service shaped his perspective and commitments.

Griffin also voiced public support for Jayden Daniels, the Commanders’ young quarterback. "We should continue to celebrate this young man. He's doing things that have never been done before and giving the Commanders a franchise quarterback outlook," Griffin said. "I think he can be the first franchise quarterback they've had since [Joe] Theismann. We should support him through all his ups and downs because this young man is special."

Griffin, Daniels and running back Mike Thomas (1975) are the only players in Washington history to be named Rookie of the Year, a distinction Griffin referenced when discussing the franchise’s future. He said the fan support he experienced remains meaningful and that he wants to see the team and its current players succeed.

While Griffin’s playing days in Washington ended sooner than many anticipated after his injury, he portrayed his connection to the franchise as lasting, rooted in gratitude for the opportunities and support he received while in the city and for the community ties that continue to define his post-playing endeavors.