Robert Griffin III to make NFL broadcasting debut on FOX for Panthers vs. Saints

For the first time in his broadcasting career, Robert Griffin III will be in an NFL booth. He will call the Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints game on FOX this weekend alongside Jason Benetti, FOX announced.

Griffin and Benetti formed FOX’s No. 2 college football broadcast booth this year after the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner came aboard. He was let go from ESPN last year, where he served as a college football color commentator. He also contributed NFL studio coverage for NFL Live and Monday Night Countdown.

With the college football season in the books, Griffin and Benetti will now get some work in the NFL as the final stretch of the regular season begins. It’s also a full-circle moment for Griffin. Sunday’s game is at the Superdome, where he made his NFL debut with Washington at the Superdome in New Orleans. Now, it will mark his first game broadcast with FOX.

“My family is rooted in New Orleans. The first time I suited up in the NFL was in New Orleans. The first time I put on a headset as a NFL game broadcaster is in New Orleans too,” Griffin said, via AP. “God has a way of bringing you back to your roots to remind you who you are.”

More on Robert Griffin III’s first year at FOX

Following his departure from ESPN, Robert Griffin III worked as a studio host for Netflix’s Christmas Day NFL doubleheader last year and continued to grow his podcast, Outta Pocket with RGIII, which he co-hosts with his wife Grete.

FOX then hired Griffin to join Benetti in its No. 2 college football booth following Brock Huard’s departure. The two drew some top matchups throughout the season, largely in the Big Ten and Big 12. They were on notably a Week 10 game between Texas Tech and Kansas State, which drew 3.1 million viewers on FOX, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel data obtained by On3. That made it one of FOX’s most-watched games outside of its Big Noon Saturday window.

Throughout the year, Griffin and Benetti developed a strong rapport in the booth. That will continue at the NFL level on Sunday with the Panthers vs. Saints game, and Griffin reflected on his time away from broadcasting after leaving ESPN.

“Being out and away from it showed me that the passion to do it never waned,” Griffin said. “Fox was the first place that I auditioned and immediately saw my ability both in the broadcast booth and also in studio. I wanted to make sure when I came over that I gave them my best foot forward.”