FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons exercised their fifth-year option for running back Bijan Robinson on Friday.
Robinson was selected by the Falcons with the 8th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and has emerged as one of the league's most exciting players since coming to Atlanta. Robinson earned his first All-Pro recognition after a record-setting 2025 season.
In his third year, Robinson broke the Falcons' all-time scrimmage record with 2,298 total yards, which paced all NFL players last season and stands as the 12th-highest single-season total in league history. While racking up those yards, Robinson left a wake of dropped jaws and broken ankles as he generated big play after big play. Perhaps none were bigger than the 93-yard touchdown run in Week 17 against the Los Angeles Rams on prime-time television. That house call was the longest rushing touchdown in Falcons history.
Robinson's 2,298 scrimmage yards came on 366 touches and broke down to 1,478 yards rushing and 820 yards receiving. His 6.3 yards per touch last year are tied with O.J. Simpson's 1975 season and Marshall Faulk's 2001 season as the fifth-best average in league history among players with at least 2,000 scrimmage yards in a single season.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Ian Cunningham made it clear this offseason that they view Robinson as a special player on and off the field as they head into their first season working with him.
"He is one of the best players at his position, one of the best players in the league," Cunningham said at NFL League Meetings. "I was excited that I had already had the chance to get to know him and start some dialogue with him."
This week, as the Falcons reported for voluntary offseason workouts, Stefanski shared what he's learned of his star running back so far.
"There's no shortage in what he can do for the football team on the field," Stefanski said. "But also the person that he is off the field and what he brings to our locker room and to the question earlier about culture and being a player-driven culture, he's a driver of that just because of how he attacks each day."
Robinson is a core part of what the Falcons have built on offense in recent years, joining Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Michael Penix Jr. as key first-round additions for that side of the ball. As his scrimmage yards breakdown illustrates, Robinson is one of the league's most versatile running backs in an era defined by versatility. His comfort as both a receiver and open-field runner gives offensive coordinator Tommy Rees a lot of flexibility when building the offense.
Since entering the league, Robinson leads all NFL players with 5,648 scrimmage yards — 408 more than Derrick Henry, who is second on that list. He's gained 3,910 yards on the ground and 1,738 receiving yards, which are the third-most and most by any running back since 2023, respectively. Robinson is also responsible for more first downs than any NFL player since turning pro. His 34 touchdowns are tied with Saquon Barkley for ninth-most in the last three years.
"I am pretty excited, even just with how I feel," Robinson said after returning to the facility for offseason workouts. "They always say, like, (these are) your prime years, but I really feel like this is the best I have felt my whole time being here."
By exercising Robinson's fifth-year option, the Falcons keep their dynamic weapon in the fold through the 2027 season.
