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Ex-NFL QB Robert Griffin III leaves USA flag football team

By Thomson Reuters May 9, 2026 | 12:02 PM

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III is no longer part of the U.S. flag football team as it prepares for the sport’s ​Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028.

The ‌36-year-old former Heisman Trophy winner announced Friday on X that he had removed himself from the 2026 USA Football selection process due to a scheduling conflict.

“A commitment honoring our military ‌veterans ​is preventing me from attending ⁠training camp and that’s ⁠not fair to the other 23 guys competing for a spot this year,” Griffin posted. “Looking forward to seeing the squad go to Germany and ​win Gold and still excited for LA28.”

In March, Griffin was one of four quarterbacks named to ⁠a 24-man training camp roster. ⁠The next camp is scheduled for May ​21-24 in Chula Vista, Calif.

The roster will be pared ​down to a 12-man squad that will represent ‌the United States at the 16-team International Federation of American Flag Football World Championships from Aug. 27-30 at Dusseldorf, Germany.

Since last playing in the NFL ⁠during the 2020 season, Griffin has worked as a football analyst for ESPN and Fox.

The No. 2 overall pick by ⁠Washington in ‌the 2012 NFL Draft out of ⁠Baylor, Griffin earned NFL Offensive Rookie of ​the ‌Year honors and made the Pro ​Bowl in ⁠2012. He passed for 9,271 yards with 43 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in 56 career NFL games (42 starts) with Washington (2012-14), the Cleveland Browns (2016) and the Baltimore Ravens (2018-20). He also rushed for 1,809 yards and 10 ​scores.

–Field Level Media