Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III recently shared how basketball legend Michael Jordan influenced his athletic career. During an appearance on Scoop B Radio with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Griffin opened up about his admiration for the six-time NBA champion and how it shaped his early ambitions.
Griffin revealed that his childhood dream was to emulate Jordan. “I wanted to be like Mike,” the former Heisman Trophy winner said. Surprisingly, it wasn’t football that first captured his attention but basketball, thanks to Jordan’s immense impact.
Growing up, Griffin had aspirations of becoming a basketball star, idolizing the Chicago Bulls icon. Despite his later success in football, he admitted, “I don’t know how I got into football! To be honest with you, I only played it because my friends played it.”
Griffin explained that he didn’t begin his football journey with a passion for the sport. It was simply something he did because his peers were involved. “I wasn’t even a starter in high school until I was a junior,” he said. His late start in football didn’t diminish his love for sports or the influence of Jordan on his competitive mindset.
Griffin also mentioned how his football heroes eventually emerged. He grew up a Denver Broncos fan, idolizing Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway. “When it came to football, I was a Denver Broncos fan, so John Elway was the guy,” Griffin shared. He would often pretend to be Elway, envisioning dramatic touchdown passes in backyard games with friends.
Though Griffin’s football career flourished, the desire to be like Jordan remained central to his motivation. Jordan’s work ethic and legendary status inspired Griffin to push through challenges and aim for greatness in his own field. The path to becoming a professional athlete wasn’t always clear for Griffin, who was a track star and didn’t excel at football until later in high school.
