Robert Griffin III wants to return to Baylor in a new role, and the former Heisman Trophy winner expressed strong enthusiasm for the university’s vacant head football coaching position despite having no prior coaching experience.
Griffin made his intentions clear Monday on The Dan Patrick Show. The former Baylor quarterback also revealed that he had spoken with athletic director Doug McNamee about the opening.
When Patrick asked whether he would consider taking the job, Griffin responded emphatically.
“Yes, 100 percent,” Griffin said. “If Baylor wants to get back to winning and have a university that isn't just respectable on the football field, but the fans can be proud of, they need people who know what it looks like to win at Baylor. So yeah, I would 100 percent be interested.”
His comments come one day after Baylor dismissed head coach Dave Aranda following a disappointing tenure that ended with a 40-40 record over six and a half seasons. Defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman has been appointed interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Griffin’s Baylor Legacy Gives Him a Connection to the Program
Griffin remains one of the most recognizable figures in Baylor football history. In 2011, he became the first player from the university to win the Heisman Trophy, leading the Bears to their first 10-win season since 1980.
During his award-winning campaign, Griffin completed a standout season with 4,293 passing yards, 37 touchdown passes and just six interceptions. He also contributed 699 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, establishing himself as one of college football’s most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks.
Baylor finished that season with a 10-3 record, and Griffin’s success helped raise the program’s national profile.
Now 36, Griffin works as a college football analyst and broadcaster for Fox Sports. He has never held a coaching position, however, which would make his potential appointment an unconventional choice for a major college football program.
After winning the Heisman, Griffin was selected second overall by Washington in the 2012 NFL Draft. He spent seven seasons in the NFL, including time with Washington, the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens.
His playing experience and familiarity with Baylor could strengthen his connection to the program, but the university would need to weigh those advantages against his lack of coaching experience.
Baylor Begins Search for Aranda’s Replacement
McNamee confirmed Monday that Baylor has started the process of identifying its next head coach. In an open letter, the athletic director emphasized the university’s desire to establish sustained success rather than settle for short-term improvement.
“We want to bring in someone who will launch a generation of consistent winning,” McNamee wrote.
McNamee also stressed that the next coach must represent Baylor’s values and Christian mission while delivering results on the field.
“There are certainly non-negotiables when it comes to how we win and represent Baylor and its Christian mission, but it is imperative that we win because there is no substitute for how it fuels our priorities, our goals, and our future,” he added.
The university is not expected to make an immediate appointment. With the college football season still underway, the timing of the coaching calendar makes December a likely window for a final decision.
Griffin’s public declaration places his name into the conversation, but Baylor has not announced him as a candidate or indicated that he is a leading contender.
Bears Look to Regain Their Winning Form
Baylor’s coaching vacancy follows a difficult stretch for a program that enjoyed considerable success earlier in Aranda’s tenure.
The Bears captured the Big 12 Conference championship and defeated Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl during the 2021 season, finishing with a school-record 12 victories. That achievement marked the high point of Aranda’s time in Waco.
Since that 12-win campaign, Baylor has gone 26-31 overall, struggling to maintain the same level of competitiveness.
The Bears currently hold a 4-3 record, including a 2-2 mark in Big 12 play. Their recent results contributed to the decision to move on from Aranda.
Baylor suffered a painful 25-24 defeat at Kansas on Saturday after a field goal attempt was blocked in the final minute. The loss followed a 17-6 home defeat against TCU, ending the Bears’ four-game winning streak.
Those back-to-back setbacks added pressure to a season that had shown signs of progress before the team’s recent downturn.
Could Griffin Make the Jump From Broadcasting to Coaching?
Griffin’s interest creates an intriguing possibility for Baylor. His historic playing career, familiarity with the university and experience analyzing college football would give him a strong connection to the program’s identity.
However, transitioning directly from broadcasting into a head coaching position would be a major step. Leading a college football team involves recruiting, staff management, player development, game planning and overseeing an entire program—responsibilities Griffin has not previously handled as a coach.
Baylor must decide whether a candidate with a celebrated connection to the school could deliver the long-term results McNamee has outlined, or whether the program needs someone with an established coaching record.
For now, Griffin has made his position unmistakable: he wants the opportunity. Whether Baylor views the former quarterback as the right person to lead its next chapter remains to be seen.
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