As fans criticized Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert for his terrible performance in the AFC Wild Card game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, a former NFL quarterback received backlash for his words against the Los Angeles star.
Former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL starter Robert Griffin III was one of the many analysts and fans who ripped Herbert's game.
Herbert completed just 14 of 32 passes for 242 passing yards, one touchdown and an abysmal four interceptions in a 31-12 loss.
Griffin took to social media to criticize Herbert, but some didn't like the framing of the former Washington, Cleveland and Baltimore quarterback's words.
“The national media better hold Justin Herbert accountable for his playoff performances, like they do Lamar Jackson and Dak Prescott.” Griffin tweeted Saturday night..
Many on social media decided to criticize Griffin for these comments, which seemed to suggest that Jackson and Prescott (who are black) are criticized more than their peers like Herbert (who is white).
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III was at the center of controversy after a tweet
Griffin criticized the poor performance of Chargers QB Justin Herbert, who threw four picks.
Griffin said the media should hold Herbert to the same standard they hold players like Lamar Jackson and Dak Prescott, and some believe race was at the center of his message.
“You're worried about disparaging Herbert instead of rooting for Stroud to win the playoffs,” wrote one user on X, formerly Twitter.
Another user said: 'Come on Robert, damn, does everything have to be about race?… The whole thing, constantly seeing things through the lens of race, sucks.' It invites this kind of one-upmanship, where everyone starts thinking in terms of race. It is equivalent to reviving racism instead of washing our hands. It's fucking stupid. Enough.'
Outkick founder Clay Travis tweeted: 'The race-baiting here is unbearable. It's 2025 brother. All these guys, black and white, make $50 million a year to play quarterback. And when they lose, EVERYONE is plucked to the heavens. You are simply making up racial narratives here to divide sports fans.
Travis continued: 'Should we bring out Jussie Smollett's face for this year's sports races? If I post a photo of Jussie and it gets more likes than yours, will you be embarrassed to heaven? It seems like a fun idea, like the frog of shame but sporty.'
He added: “By the way, Peyton Manning is the most criticized quarterback for 'not winning the big game' of all time. John Elway is probably second. (They both eventually did it.) Dan Marino is third. They all turn out being white. Why are they super criticized? Because they are BIG. Greatness generates high expectations.'
Daily Wire writer Blain Crain simply tweeted: “race baiting.”
'Since you're salivating about MAKING this a racial issue (it's not, by the way) you've missed your chance to put (Houston Texans quarterback CJ) Stroud on the big stage like he deserves… ', reads another user's post. .
'What about (Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike) Tomlin and his failures in the playoffs? Any ideas?' another fan wrote.
Fans criticized Griffin, saying he was making this an issue of race rather than ability.
Almost to take advantage of a fan's last question, on Sunday afternoon, Griffin posted another tweet saying, “The national media better hold Mike Tomlin as responsible for their lack of playoff success as they do Mike McCarthy.”
Griffin then posted a list of statistics comparing the two coaches, noting how the Steelers coach has a losing record in the playoffs, hasn't won a playoff game in a longer period of time, and concludes: “So, either criticize them both or show grace to both of them. They are literally on the same path.”
Travis stated that Griffin's second stance was a “pivot” before adding: “But in all seriousness, the goal of any honest person, member of the sports media or fan, should be to hold everyone to the exact same standard regardless of race.” , class, sexuality or anything else. Another identity politics garbage used to divide us.
And for the record, I think Tomlin has a lot less to work with at QB than McCarthy does. The dividing line between success and failure in the NFL is almost entirely based on who your quarterback is. Look at Belichick, the guy was the GOAT with Brady, you can't win in the NFL without him.
This is not the first time this NFL season that 'RGIII' has been at the center of controversy over race.
In November, several people suggested that her mixed-race daughters were not black.
Griffin defended her children from the opinions of outsiders, saying, “For black women to tell my four daughters that they are not black is BEYOND WRONG.”