After Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert struggled in the AFC Wild Card game against the Houston Texans, fans started criticizing him. Meanwhile, a former NFL quarterback faced backlash for his comments about Herbert.
Former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL starter Robert Griffin III was one of many analysts and fans who eviscerated Herbert’s game.
Herbert completed only 14-of-32 passes for 242 passing yards, one touchdown, and an abysmal four interceptions in a 31-12 defeat.
Taking to social media, Griffin expressed his criticism of Herbert. However, some people found fault with how the former Washington, Cleveland, and Baltimore quarterback conveyed his message.
Griffin tweeted on Saturday evening, ‘The national media should hold Justin Herbert accountable for his playoff performances, just like they do with Lamar Jackson and Dak Prescott.’
Many on social media decided to slam Griffin for these comments, which appeared to suggest that Jackson and Prescott (who are Black) get 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 tossed four picks
Griffin said the media should hold Herbert to the same standard they do players like Lamar Jackson and Dak Prescott – with some believing that race was at the center of his message
‘Y’all worried about putting down Herbert instead of lifting up Stroud winning in the playoffs,’ wrote one user on X, formerly Twitter.
Another user said, ‘C’mon Robert, damn does everything have to be about race?… The whole thing, constantly viewing things through the lens of race, stinks. It invites this sort of one-upsmanship, where everyone begins to think in terms of race. It amounts to reviving racism instead of washing our hands of it. It’s f***ing stupid. Stop it.’
Outkick founder Clay Travis tweeted, ‘The race baiting here is insufferable. It’s 2025 bro. All of these guys, black and white, make $50million a year to play quarterback. And when they lose they ALL get ripped to the high heavens. You’re just making up race narratives to divide sports fans here.’
Travis continued: ‘Should we break out the Jussie Smollett face for the sports race bait takes this year? If I post a Jussie pic and it gets more likes than your take you have been shamed to the high heavens? Seems like a fun idea, like the frog of shame but sports.’
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. (Both eventually did it.) Dan Marino is third. All happen to be white. Why are they super criticized? Because they are GREAT. Greatness breeds high expectations. That’s sports.’
Daily Wire writer Blain Crain simply tweeted out, ‘race-baiting’.
‘Since you’re salivating to MAKE this a racial issue (it is not, btw) you’ve missed the opportunity to put [Houston Texans quarterback C.J.] Stroud on the big stage like he deserves…….,’ read another user’s post.
‘What about [Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike] Tomlin &his playoff failures? Any thoughts there?,’ wrote another fan.
Fans criticized Griffin, saying that he was turning this into an issue of race instead of ability
Almost to piggy back straight on from that last fan’s question, on Sunday afternoon, Griffin posted another tweet saying, ‘The national media better hold Mike Tomlin accountable for his lack of playoff success like they do Mike McCarthy.’
Griffin then posted a list of stats comparing the two coaches, pointing out how the Steelers coach has a losing playoff record, hasn’t won a playoff game in a longer amount of time, and concluding, ‘So either take them both to task or show them both grace. They are literally on the same path.’
Travis declared Griffin’s second stance a ‘pivot’ before adding, ‘But in all seriousness, the goal of any honest person, sports media member or fan, should be to hold everyone to the exact same standard regardless of race, class, sexuality or any other identity politics garbage that’s used to divide us.
‘And for the record, I think Tomlin’s got way less to work with at QB than McCarthy. The dividing line between success and failure in the NFL is almost entirely based on who your quarterback is. Look at Belichick, guy was the GOAT with Brady, can’t win in NFL without him.’
This isn’t the first time this NFL season that ‘RGIII’ has been at the center of controversy over race.
Back in November, a number of people suggested that his mixed-race daughters weren’t black.
Griffin defended his children from the opinions of outsiders, saying, ‘Black women telling my four daughters that they aren’t black is BEYOND WRONG.’
