The feud on X between former Washington Commanders quarterback Robert Griffin III and former head coach Jay Gruden has provided plenty of fodder for social media, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas is here for it.
Thomas told his ThomaHawk Show co-host Andrew Hawkins that based on his experience in the locker room with the now ESPN football analyst, this sort of back and forth between Gruden and Griffin was a common occurrence.
“I loved being teammates with RG3 because we got stuff like this every single day,” Thomas said. “I have so many memories from the one year when he was my quarterback that were so lovely. And he’s a great friend. I love the guy, but I am so glad that I did never have to coach that guy, because he will get your ass fired and killed, and I love the fact that he is savvy enough that he’s just gonna start throwing bombs at other coaches and man, he gets them with the little hook and pulls them onto the show.”
Joe said what he appreciates about Robert Griffin III is that he keeps it authentic all the time, even on social media.
“That’s what I love about the guy,” he said. “He just has no shame whatsoever, and the fact that he couldn’t see that maybe Jay Gruden had said some things in confidence to try to boost his confidence in himself in those moments when he was coaching him and maybe weren’t exactly the truth with everything. And then he’s gonna use those as bombs to throw back now that they’re not working together is just typical RG3.”
Hawkins, who played under Gruden in Cincinnati, said it was clear two similar personalities clashed so mightily.
“I think that RG3 has a very specific like perspective on anything he remembers a certain way. And that is who he is. Jay Gruden is also that way,” Hawkins said. “Jay Gruden has an offense that would be like, it was like enough detail that if it worked, it was great coaching. But if it was bad, it was definitely Andy Dalton’s fault all the time.”
“Him going back and forth with RG3 is so on brand for both of them, it is the funniest shit that I’ve ever seen in my life,” he added.
