As much as commercials that air during football games try to convince us otherwise, life doesn’t stop for big games. Just ask former Heisman-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III, who abruptly left ESPN’s broadcast of the Fiesta Bowl between Michigan and TCU because his wife went into labor.
Griffin was bearing witness to one of the most thrilling games in the College Football Playoff’s history, but got a call while on the air informing him that his wife Grete Sadeiko had gone into labor. That news naturally superseded his broadcast duties.
Griffin himself tweeted why he was leaving the game.
WIFE IS IN LABOR!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/Kep0Ek51vU
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 1, 2023
It was a strange moment on one of the several simulcasts ESPN is airing for the playoffs. As a conversation goes on around him, Griffin pulls his headset down to answer the phone and starts to celebrate.
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His tweet later confirmed what happened, and he followed up a little over an hour later saying he had a seat on a Southwest Airlines flight.
UPDATE!!!
Made a SOUTHWEST FLIGHT to get home. HOLD ON BABY, DADDYs COMING! https://t.co/wSBKrUMf44— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 1, 2023
It’s fitting this would happen at the point in the game it did. TCU had just seemingly broken things open toward the end of the third quarter. Shortly after Griffin left, Michigan clawed its way back into the game, but ultimately fell short in an instant classic.
Griffin and Sadeiko, who married in 2018, have two daughters. The broadcaster also has a third daughter from a previous marriage to Rebecca Liddicoat.
The 32-year-old Griffin has become a popular college football broadcaster because of his high energy, so his reaction to his wife going into labor shouldn’t stun anyone.
For anyone watching the video, remember: Priorities. Clearly Griffin has them.