Robert Griffin claims Diego Pavia will 'eff his way out the league' with current off-field behavior

Vanderbilt superstar Diego Pavia has been under the microscope in the last few days for how he responded to finishing as the runner-up for the 2025 Heisman Trophy. Among other things, he was disrespectful toward Indiana and winner Fernando Mendoza. He also blasted the Heisman Trophy voters.

Many have lamented the fact that he hasn’t handled things better. Including former Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, who issued some free advice for Pavia.

“For Diego Pavia, he has to decide how does he want to be perceived publicly and how does he want to be perceived of being his true self,” Griffin said on his podcast Outta Pocket. “Because if his true self is partying, drinking, eff everybody, eff this, eff that, he’s going to eff his way out the league.

“And that’s not something that I want for the young man, because he is extremely talented and he did a lot to bring Vanderbilt to heights that it’s really never been at. Don’t undercut yourself, young man. Be smart, keep a low profile when it comes to those types of things. And what’s the one thing that we said that you should never do when you’re tweeting? What is it?”

Griffin’s wife, Grete Griffin, also chimed in on the latest goings on. She urged Pavia to consider who he wants to be. She also outlined the many ways that continuing down the path Pavia has can lead to adverse outcomes. Griffin jumped back in.

“I wouldn’t disagree with that at all. And I’ll say this,” Robert Griffin III added on Pavia. “To win the game, to beat the game, you’ve got to know what the game is. And in order to be a franchise quarterback, you have to act like a franchise quarterback. If teams can’t trust that you’re going to win with grace and also lose with grace, then they don’t feel like you deserve their grace.”

Pavia certainly has the skill to be a quality player at the next level. But he already has some things that will cause teams to think long and hard about drafting him, namely his height.

Adding other factors that can be scrutinized is only going to hurt. But more than anything, Robert Griffin seemed to just want to see Pavia succeed.

“So, Diego, man, I’m telling you, you are so talented, you have such a bright future,” Robert Griffin said. “Take that, take what we’re saying and understand that we’re just trying to help you. We’ve been there. We know what it’s like to be in the limelight. We know what it’s like to make mistakes and correct them.

“You made the mistake, you corrected it with the apology, but what you do next is going to determine how people actually look at you and how they take you seriously or if they think that you’re a joke. Don’t be a joke. You’re super talented. Your game is unbelievable on the field. Make them talk about how awesome you are on the field, not how terrible or childish you are off of it.”