Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III has been ripped for a hot take involving the firing of a pair of black coaches, insinuating that they were intentionally put in their positions to fail.
“The Houston Texans have fired Lovie Smith after 1 year. Using 2 Black Head Coaches to tank and then firing them after 1 year shouldn’t sit right with anyone,” he tweeted on Monday.
The Houston Texans have fired Lovie Smith after 1 year. Using 2 Black Head Coaches to tank and then firing them after 1 year shouldn’t sit right with anyone.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 9, 2023
The organization fired coach David Culley in early 2022 after winning just four games, then dismissed Lovie Smith in early 2023 after just a three-win season.
The Blaze noted further:
The former Rookie of the Year agreed and disagreed with some fan replies regarding the argument surrounding the race of the coaches, responding to one comment in relation to the Denver Broncos firing their head coach, Nathaniel Hackett. Hackett was employed by the organization for just one year as well, after sporting a 5-12 record.
“Nathaniel Hackett getting fired in less than one season – no problem?” a fan asked.
“Hackett was fired for the team underperforming MASSIVELY after trading for Russell Wilson. Roster was SUPER BOWL Contender level like the Rams and Bucs were after getting Stafford and Brady. Texans hired Culley and Lovie knowing the roster was bad, then fired them for being bad,” Griffin responded.
Hackett was fired for the team underperforming MASSIVELY after trading for Russell Wilson. Roster was SUPER BOWL Contender level like the Rams and Bucs were after getting Stafford and Brady. Texans hired Culley and Lovie knowing the roster was bad, then fired them for being bad.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 9, 2023
A black NFL reporter for USA Today echoed RG3’s sentiments, making it about race and intentionally tanking seasons, as though that’s really a thing that owners want to do.
“Neither David Culley or Lovie Smith deserved to be fired. The Texans put two Black coaches in unwinnable situations and didn’t even give them an opportunity to succeed,” Tyler Dragon wrote.
You're suggesting that the Houston ownership intentionally tanked two seasons because they don't really want black head coaches.
Bro. That's insane hate.
— Dr. Jonny Republic If You Can Keep It 🇺🇸 (@JonDougherty10) January 10, 2023
But other sports writers weren’t as charitable.
“To make this a race issue is lazy,” sports writer and podcaster Gary Sheffield Jr. wrote.
“At some point we watch a situation unfold in the NFL and know how we can spin it and just choose not to. I like a lot of what RGIII puts out but there’s no question he’s ignoring the fact that Jeff Saturday, who I’m quite sure was born white, in Atlanta, was hired as an interim Head Coach to move the Colts into position to hire another coach next season,” Sheffield added.
Noted The Blaze: “Sheffield was referring to the Indianapolis Colts’ head coach, Jeff Saturday, who was widely criticized at the beginning of the 2022 season for being hired to simply coach a team that management knew would perform poorly. Saturday faced questions about his qualifications, despite being a Super Bowl champion, with his race brought into question at the time as well.”
