Robert Griffin III announces special phone call with Deion Sanders following his firing from ESPN

Earlier this month, Robert Griffin III was fired from ESPN, sending shockwaves through the sports media landscape. The former Heisman Trophy winner quickly returned to the media world, airing a new episode of his podcast. Out of the bag with RGIIIon Tuesday.

In the podcast, Griffin, who recently spoke about his dismissal from ESPN, spoke in Rich Eisen ShowI wanted to get a few things off my chest.

Griffin was accompanied by Colorado coach Deion Sanders, and the two had an intimate exchange in which the analyst generously thanked Sanders for calling him immediately after the ESPN news as they were wrapping up the taping.

“Is the camera still on? I want to say this while the camera is still on,” Griffin said after a nearly hour-long discussion with Sanders (at 50:20 in the video). “What happened to me last week was you called me. And that meant everything to me. You talk about how as black fathers, as black men, people often don't check in on each other. That meant the world to me. I want you to know that.”

“You're a good brother, man,” Sanders replied. “You don't get on nobody's nerves, you don't pick fights with nobody, you don't talk about nobody. You're thought-provoking, you're entertaining, you're clean, you're a great husband, you're a great man, we have to support that. So, this stupid thing they did, dog, I don't know what God planned, but I know it's huge.”

Griffin and his colleague Samantha Ponder were let go by ESPN on August 16 as part of the network's cost-cutting measures, according to Andrew Marchand of The athlete. Griffin's contract still had two years left. He had hosted the NFL pregame show, Monday evening countdownfor two years before being replaced by former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce last offseason.

“I am grateful for so many people who have helped me grow during my time at ESPN as they are some of the best in the business,” Griffin said in a statement following his ESPN firing. “What people sometimes don't realize is that none of this would be possible without you, the FANS. So THANK YOU to everyone who has supported my family during my playing days and my commentating career so far.”