RGIII Slams NFL Players Returning to College

Robert Griffin III, the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner, has strongly criticized the prospect of former NFL players returning to play college football. He deems such moves "gross negligence" and a disservice to current college athletes. Any coach or school facilitating this should, in Griffin's view, "be ashamed."

Griffin's perspective stems from his own experience graduating early from Baylor and entering the NFL Draft. He believes college football should not serve as a fallback option once a player has crossed into the professional ranks.

The current situation involving tight end Dae'Quan Wright is testing these boundaries. Wright, waived by the Cleveland Browns, reportedly has an agreement to join LSU in 2026 if he clears waivers. This would make him the first known player to transition from an NFL team back to college.

Wright spent the 2025 season at Ole Miss, achieving second-team All-SEC honors. He was later signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent before being claimed by Cleveland.

A recent Louisiana court ruling provided temporary relief to athletes challenging NCAA eligibility rules, potentially opening the door for more players like Wright. Sixteen football players were among those involved in the legal action, raising concerns for the NCAA.

Senior Vice President Tim Buckley stated that these court decisions risk college sports becoming a "fallback option" and taking opportunities from other student-athletes. Griffin's criticism, however, places responsibility on the college programs willing to exploit these legal openings.