Robert Griffin III’s wife Grete has lifted the lid on her ‘whirlwind of emotions’, speaking out about her husband’s shock ESPN exit.
Former NFL star Griffin was seen as a rising star TV analyst, but was let go by the network this week – despite having two years left on his contract.
He was reportedly earning over $1m a year on the deal, and will be paid out in full after being fired ahead of the start of the new NFL season.
Taking to social media, Grete has referenced her husband’s exit again, posting a photo of them at a red carpet event this weekend.
Alongside the snap, she wrote: ‘Despite the last 48 hours being a total whirlwind of emotions, we weren’t gonna let anything get in the way of us helping The Harold & Carole Pump Foundation raise funds and create awareness for the treatment and cure of cancer. Blessed to be a part!’
In the comments section, a fan queried whether Griffin would still be paid his remaining two years, and Grete went on to offer clarification, confirming: ‘Yes, the headlines of him being fired were definitely misleading because technically he got “laid off” because he’s getting paid his full contract.’
Griffin, the offensive rookie of the year in 2012, played for the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens during his NFL career.
He joined ESPN in 2021 after they fought off interest from Fox Sports, who were impressed by his audition and desperately wanted to sign him.
The former quarterback worked on ESPN’s ‘Monday Night Countdown’ show but was replaced by Jason Kelce this offseason.
Travis Kelce’s brother – the recently-retired Philadelphia Eagles star and podcast host – is seen as a marquee signing for the network.
Griffin also worked on ESPN’s college football broadcasts alongside announcer Bob Wischusen.
Earlier this month, Griffin threw his support behind controversial Olympics boxer Imane Khelif after she was dragged into a gender row in Paris.
Khelif, who went on to win a gold medal, was disqualified from the 2023 world championships after failing unspecified gender eligibility tests administered by the now-banned International Boxing Association.
The 25-year-old, who is not a transgender woman and has never identified as such, allegedly has male ‘XY chromosomes.’
Amid outcry from the likes of former president Donald Trump about her presence at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Griffin pointed out that Khelif is a ‘biological woman’ who deserves ‘protection.’
‘This is one of the most cruel and unfair situations I’ve ever seen happen at the Olympics,’ the former quarterback said in a social media clip posted Friday.
‘If you do any research you will know that five million women suffer with higher testosterone levels than most females,’ he explained.
‘This young girl is not a man competing against women, she’s a woman who’s being unfairly judged.’
