‘It’s Gross Negligence’ — Heisman Winner Argues College Football ‘Should Be Ashamed’ for Allowing NFL Players to Return
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Robert Griffin III knows what it looks like to leave college football for the NFL. The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner just does not believe the door should swing back the other way.
Griffin blasted the possibility of former NFL players returning to college after the latest development involving tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who is being waived by the Cleveland Browns and has an agreement to join LSU if he clears waivers.
Robert Griffin III Says Schools ‘Should Be Ashamed’
“NFL players should not be allowed to go back to play college football,” Griffin wrote in an X post. “It’s gross negligence.”
The former Baylor star did not stop there.
“It’s a disservice to the current college players on any roster,” Griffin continued. “Any coach or school who allows it should be ashamed of themselves.”
Griffin’s position carries an interesting layer of perspective. He won the Heisman at Baylor in 2011, graduated early, and entered the 2012 NFL Draft, where Washington selected him No. 2 overall. His argument is that once a player crosses into professional football, college should no longer function as a fallback option.
Wright’s situation is testing that boundary in real time.
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ESPN reported Sunday that Cleveland is waiving Wright and that his agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Kyle Lincoln, say he has an agreement to play for LSU in 2026 if he clears NFL waivers. If the move goes through, Wright would become the first known player to sign with an NFL team and then return to college football.
Dae’Quan Wright Case Adds Fuel to Eligibility Debate
Wright spent the 2025 season at Ole Miss, catching 39 passes for 635 yards and 5 touchdowns while earning second-team All-SEC recognition. His 80.6 PFN College TE Impact score ranked 20th nationally among qualifying tight ends.
He then signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent before Cleveland claimed him off waivers on Aug. 11.
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A Louisiana court recently granted temporary relief to a group of athletes challenging NCAA eligibility rules. ESPN reported that 16 football players were among the athletes involved, creating the possibility that Wright will not be the only player attempting to move from an NFL roster back to a college one.
The NCAA has pushed back strongly. Senior Vice President Tim Buckley said recent court decisions risk making college sports a “fallback option” for professional athletes while taking opportunities away from other players.
Griffin’s criticism attacks the issue from the same direction, but places responsibility on schools and coaches willing to take advantage of the legal opening.
For LSU, Wright would provide a proven SEC tight end with professional offseason experience. For everyone already on the Tigers’ roster, that is precisely the type of competitive ripple Griffin believes college football should not permit.
The courts may decide whether players like Wright are eligible. Griffin believes college programs should not need a judge to tell them where to draw the line.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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