Robert Griffin III expresses interest in Baylor head coach job after Dave Aranda firing

After Baylor announced the firing of Dave Aranda on Sunday, one of its most notable alumni has expressed interest in the job. Robert Griffin III said he would “100%” want to take over as the next head coach. Griffin, of course, won a Heisman Trophy at Baylor before becoming the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. He then went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with Washington in 2012 and is currently a football analyst for FOX, alongside play-by-play commentator Connor Onion. $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage But with Aranda now out as head coach after two straight losses, including last week against Kansas, Baylor has a vacancy. Griffin told Dan Patrick he would be interested in the role and broke down what the Bears need in their next coach. "If Baylor wants to get back to winning and have a university that isn't just respectable on the football field, but one the fans can be proud of, they need people who know what it looks like to win at Baylor." — @RGIII says he's interested in the Baylor head coaching job. 🐻🏈 pic.twitter.com/tgrnYZM0nQ— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) October 26, 2026 “Yes, 100%,” Griffin said Monday on The Dan Patrick Show. “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. Watch on Fubo (Try for Free) “So yeah, I would 100% be interested. I talked with the athletic director, who is a guy in Doug McNamee that knows what it looks like to win at Baylor, know how you have to win at Baylor and recruit to Baylor to make those things happen.” Griffin played at Baylor from 2008-11 and became the first Heisman winner in program history with his 2011 season. He completed 72.4% of his passes for 4,293 yards and an FBS-leading 37 touchdowns, to six interceptions, that year before declaring for the NFL Draft. After four seasons with Washington, Griffin spent 2016 with the Cleveland Browns and played for the Baltimore Ravens from 2018-20. He then pursued a media career, working at ESPN as both an NFL and college football analyst from 2021-24 before joining FOX in 2025. Robert Griffin III lists other options for Baylor job As Baylor begins its search to replace Aranda, who spent seven seasons in Waco and amassed a 40-40 record, Robert Griffin III also listed some other candidates who could be fits for the role. He mentioned Boise State’s Spencer Danielson and UTSA’s Jeff Traylor as possible options, as well as a “dark horse” contender: USC’s Lincoln Riley. “Outside of myself, I would also advocate for Spencer Danielson, the head coach at Boise State,” Griffin said. “I think he is a top-notch guy, top-notch coach and knows how two win. “I also think Jeff Traylor at UTSA is a great option. A dark horse would be Lincoln Riley from USC. I know he’s got his experiences at Oklahoma and obviously, what’s going on at USC right now.”