Heisman trophy winner and 2012 NFL Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III has agreed to a deal to be the coach of RGIII Takeover, a rebranded team in Overtime’s 7×7 football league (OT7), a content-focused startup that spotlights standout high school players. It’s the first time Griffin, now 35, has stepped into this kind of coaching role, with the opportunity to groom some of the nation’s blue-chip recruits.

The former Pro Bowl quarterback retired from the NFL in 2021 after eight seasons, and he worked as an ESPN analyst for three years before being released in August 2024. This role with OT7 could open up coaching as a potential next career avenue; Griffin says he recently turned down an offer to be the Sacramento State head coach, which ultimately went to former UNLV offensive coordinator Brennan Marion. He was grateful to receive his first college head coach offer but says it wasn’t the right fit.

Griffin’s OT7 position allows him to coach future college stars without taking on the demanding schedule of a full-time college coach, which is something the father of four takes seriously when considering full-time roles. His experience coaching his two daughters in a 7U flag football team—which won the league championship this past fall—ignited a passion to help youth players grow and develop.

“I know as a college coach, it’s not the same as coaching seven-year-olds,” Griffin said in a phone interview. “But I think if you can have the patience to coach [them] then you can coach a five-star recruit … It’s a unique opportunity to have a big impact as a coach but I’m not actively seeking that out. These [coaching] opportunities found me and maybe that’s a sign from God.”

OT7 is launching its fourth season on March 15 in Dallas, and Griffin, who lives in the Houston area, isn’t the only former NFL standout associated with the league. ESPN’s Cam Newton helped start the league while former Super Bowl champ Torrey Smith, former wide receiver Michael Crabtree and media personality Ryan Clark are also coaching teams this season. Additionally, the sons of NFL greats Larry Fitzgerald (Devin) and Donovan McNabb (Donovan Jr.) are competing in the league, which has previously featured stars such as Michigan’s Bryce Underwood and Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith.

Griffin’s interest in coaching comes amid a wave of former NFL stars getting elevated to head coaching jobs. Colorado head coach Deion Sanders first took a college coaching job with Jackson State in 2020; since then, Eddie George, Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson, among others, have accepted coaching roles. NFL legends Ray Lewis and his former Baltimore Raven teammate Ed Reed were also recent candidates for head coaching positions.

The Gen Z-focused OT7 is geared to create added visibility for its amateur players, but it could also increase exposure for its newest coach who believes he can be successful if given the chance to lead the right college program.

“It just depends on when the right opportunity comes along,” Griffin said. “I’m 35. It may never come along. I might just continue to do media and have fun with my family on social media … But this past fall made me realize that coaching is a real possibility and when something right comes around, I’ll be ready to roll.”

Griffin, who co-hosts the Outta Pocket podcast with his wife Greta, remains focused on becoming one of the top-billed broadcasters on TV despite being released from ESPN in August. He has picked up other on-air opportunities, including joining the Netflix broadcast team for its Christmas Day NFL livestream, and he remains in ongoing conversations with major networks about analyst roles.

“There’s no such thing as a Plan B but you can have multiple Plan A’s,” he said. “I want to be a Hall of Fame husband, dad and broadcaster. But if coaching ends up being the route, then I want to a Hall of Famer at that as well. That’s the way I look at it.”