Bijan Robinson Reveals Hardest Part of Being a Running Back

If you've been following the Atlanta Falcons this season, the name Bijan Robinson has likely become hard to miss. The 23-year-old running back was drafted by the Falcons just two seasons ago after an outstanding college career at the University of Texas, where he won the Doak Walker Award and was a unanimous All-American in 2022.

Robinson's impact in the NFL was immediate. In the 2024 season, he tallied 304 carries for 1,456 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, along with 61 receptions for 431 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. He finished third in the league in rushing yards and fifth in rushing touchdowns.

And he hasn't slowed down. Through Week 5 of the 2025 season, Robinson had amassed 822 scrimmage yards, the fourth-most any player has recorded in the first five games of a season in the Super Bowl era. This statistic underscores his exceptional start to the season and places him among an elite group of players in NFL history.

Robinson's athleticism is undeniable. He draws attention with his explosive acceleration, sharp cuts, and ability to run between the tackles and catch passes out of the backfield. But for him, the game's mental demands are even greater than the physical ones.

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“I have to know a lot when it comes to my position on the field,” Robinson told me. “I have to know what I’m doing in the running game. I have to know [my responsibilities] in the passing game and pass blocking because I’m doing everything on the field when it comes to catching the football, running the football, picking up blocks, and just staying ready for anything that comes my way.”

He doesn't deny the physical toll the game takes, though. Taking care of his body and staying in peak condition is just as important to him as his daily prayer sessions, HydroWorks treatments, and brushing his teeth with Colgate. That’s why he approaches conditioning so seriously—it directly affects his performance and mindset on the field.

“I have to make sure that I'm breathing right, that my body is at its best to perform…if I'm not in the best physical condition…it messes with my mentality," he says. "Everything’s out of balance, out of whack. When you're playing running back, it's both, you’re taking hits, trying to deliver hits…and you still have to know your job on the field. It all plays into each other, head to head.”