The Rise And Fall of RGIII

The NFL is a cutthroat league where former stars can quickly become nobodies. Robert Griffin The Third knows this better than most. This is the rise and fall of RG3.

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[bignate]

as a Washington fan I'm grateful to RG3 for giving us one of the most exciting seasons in 2012 that I'll never forget cuz we haven't gotten much to be excited for since then

[wayroad]

Him and Andrew Luck would still be playing today if their teams actually took care of their star QBs

[eldomo]

Still remember watching him beat my saints in his first nfl game. He one of my favorite players to watch during his rookie year it’s sad how injuries can really destroy a career

[SonCarlosH]

People may shit on him but man that '12 season was MAGICAL to me. As a life long Redskins fan and I'll forever be grateful for the memories RGIII 🙏

[elijahdvine]

Being from the DMV (PG County, Maryland).. I'll never forget working at Fedex field as a parking attendant where I'd meet many players and celebrities attending the game. I met RGIII in 2013 when he was slowing making his exit and started getting hated. I asked him "how do you keep your composure when so many people dislike you?" He replied (loosely) " Being a person of character and being able to tune out the noise by simply living my life.." I'll always have love for him for that moment. Much respect to you! RGIII

[SomeRandomBlockhead]

His first 4 seasons require elaborate context to fully understand why Washington failed him.

1: in the 2012 draft, The Washington front office BADLY wanted RG3, but HC Mike Shanahan didn’t (I believe he wanted to stay at pick 6, and draft either Ryan Tannehill or a non qb). After management forced him into it, Mike still went and drafted another qb he wanted in the 4th round: Kirk Cousins.

2: RG3 was a dynamic dual threat qb, but HC didn’t want to redesign his schemes to fit that style of play, and was considering either sitting RG3, or forcing him to play in a non-fit system. Once again, management forces him to start RG3 as a rookie, and essentially gave him the ultimatum of playoffs or fired. HC begrudgingly adapted his system in 2012 to fit his new qb, but when this system proved dangerous for RG3 with injury risk, he ignored those risks and put 100% of his in-jeopardy career on the shoulders of RG3 at that point.

3: When RG3 was injured late in the season, after team doctors recommended he not play the rest of the year, he was thrust into the game in an act of desperation and pettiness. I’m sure 3 wanted to play, but a responsible team wouldn’t risk that and would sit him so he could heal up. Nonetheless, HC refused to reconsider his schemes that year, and still burdened 3 with too much weight and risk, and didn’t properly consider the long-term health of RG3, because Shanahan didn’t want RG3 long-term.

4: in that Seattle playoff game, 3 had previously injured his leg before the famous knee explosion. But due to either incompetence on the part of the team, or a spiteful emotional response by HC, 3 was let back into the game, and the rest… well, you know what happens there. (Fun fact: we all know Dan Snyder is a cheap piece of garbage, but did you know that since he took over as owner in 1999, the Washington football field is, along with Soldier Field, considered one of the worst, lowest-quality, and most dangerous playing fields in the NFL?)

5: in 2013 (RG3s 2nd year), HC had his job security back, but, even after management forced him to start RG3 again, he went back to his old system, flat out refusing to keep accommodating the unique skills of his young qb (Granted this may also have been to keep him healthy, but knowing who Mike Shanahan is, I bet it was him challenging 3 to play in a fit that wasn’t for him). This proved to be difficult for RG3, attempting to recover and learn a new system. Shanahan basically wanted to tank 3’s value, efficiency, and productivity so he could play the guys he wanted to.

6: Mike Shanahan was let go after 2013, after failing RG3s comeback from injury, and going 3-13. After hiring Jay Gruden, pretty much because of the name alone, to start the 2014 season as HC, Washington went 4-12. Once again, they would have RG3, for the 3rd straight year to begin his career, adapt to a new system while recovering from injury.

7: After more injuries, and play regression (gee I wonder why), RG3 was benched for Kirk Cousins in 2015, who led the team to the playoffs with a 9-7 record, and was considered their new franchise qb.

8: He then played for the browns in 2016. Enough said

I’m sorry for the novel but I was a huge fan of RG3 when I was in middle school, and was absolutely devastated and heart broken when his knee betrayed the laws of physics. After some “research” (videos on youtube), I came to discover the context of why RG3 became so irrelevant as an on-field product. For this, and other reasons more well known, I will always have a scowl on my face when thinking of the Washington Commanders franchise. Still, I’ll always respect him going out as a mentor for the next dynamic, athletic young qb of the NFL. I hope he does make a comeback, and gets treated right.

TL/DR: Washington, thru negligence, incompetence, pettiness, and intentional ill-will, sabotaged the developmental part of RG3s career, and made his comeback from injuries far too difficult later on. Then he played 1 too many seasons for the browns (who are known for the AMAZING treatment of their QBs as well [sarcasm]), and last appeared as a mentor/backup to Lamar Jackson for 3 years.

[randomguy.kiduwa]

RG3. A great influence for me and loved watching his rise. Until his downfall...

[stuffanimalsfnaf]

Damn 😞 I feel so bad for him injury’s messed up everything for RG3 😣 and he’s such a good guy and amazing player

[ThecrazyJH]

Skins fan, born in 96..RG3 was the greatest thing I’ve seen in Washington football since I’ve been alive, the excitement he brought in his healthy year was unreal

[shanefield]

I remember he came to my home school KState, and I thought we had a shot with our outstanding defense. He scored a ~70 yard drive in 17 seconds, in 3 passes. I immediately knew this guy was the real deal. I really wanted him to be a huge NFL name :(

[heyitsbroski]

I'm a Cowboys fan and I appreciate RG3. It's such a shame what happened to him, but I am impressed by his work as a sport analyst.

[Ravensfan-qxpc]

I loved the little bit that he played as a Raven. I remember in the 2019 season seeing the "Heisman" formation play with him, Jackson and Ingram lined up. EA put that formation in Madden 20 that year too and kept it in the playbook till Madden 21.
I also remember that 2019 opening game against Miami. Lamar crushed them so bad that the RG3 got to take snaps in the 4th quarter. RG3 was 6/6 for 55 yards. He also got a TD Pass on a 4th and goal play.

[gouldbowman]

His personality, his heart, and just the way he talks has always made him likeable. I hope he stays committed to being an Analyst and commentator on football. I love hearing his knowledge and insight.

[isaacannanjr]

That Seahawks wildcard game when he twisted his leg 🦵 messed him up. RG3 went downhill fast after that. I thought for a split second RG3 would be better than the #1 pick in his draft class Andrew Luck. But RG3 had a hell of a rookie year. Deserved that award that year. I remember like it was yesterday. 🏈

[NathanSynth]

I remember being a Baylor student when RG3 was leading the Bears and dominating the Big 12 football. It sucks to see how his injuries stifled his very promising career.

[hoop_fan]

Loved this man’s game outta college really could’ve had a great career

[jackfreni]

I remember the year I got into football RG3 was so special to watch. I remember people at the time were saying “RG3 and Kaepernick will end up with more Lombardi Trophies than Russell” (of course look how that turned out) but at the time RG3 wasn’t that far off from Andrew Luck for that one season and a half. I’m glad he got some more success as a leader for Lamar and now an Analyst, we can all imagine where Washington would be if he never got hurt…what if

[allenballen]

That 2012 season was so fun. Thank you RG3.

[jessedellross]

I had RG3 as my starter in fantasy that year. He helped me win the league championship.

Should’ve had a long successful career. Shame what happened to him.

[robbysullivan]

He’s the Derrick Rose of the NFL😢 you can’t help but think how good he could’ve been and how much he could’ve accomplished had his health held up. Thank you Robert