Bijan Robinson on faith, football and finding joy in Atlanta
From childhood dreams to the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons running back reflects on the power of gratitude, community and playing for something bigger than himself.
When I think of the word “air”, I think of endless opportunity – on the field, in life, in work, for happiness. No matter your perspective or what you do, that’s what I think life is: endless opportunity. I believe it was God who gave me the ability to play football. My mom always tells me the story of how when I was one year old, I held a football in the barber chair, and took it everywhere I went. By the time I was four, I was playing flag football with a team called the Wildcats. She put me on the team just for fun, and our colors were blue and white. On my first carry, I remember running backward to the other end zone and people were trippin’. They were like, “What are you doing?” But my love for the sport became unquestionable after that game. My mom and my grandma were asking: “Are you sure you want to do this?” Even then, I already knew I did.
I grew up in a football household – my grandpa was a Pac-12 official, so it felt like a no-brainer. My grandpa was my biggest inspiration. I looked up to him and the way he raised us. I didn’t have my dad in my life, so he was my dad. Playing football was the biggest thing for him, so I started young and it just grew from there. When I first stepped onto the field for the Atlanta Falcons, it was emotional to see the NFL crowd, the new city and a new energy. The fans were already dancing and there was a party happening around the stadium. That moment went through my spine and the feeling was magical: seeing little ones like you when you started.
For those interested in football (or any sport really), start by getting outside. If you love it, never stop doing it because it’s just a joy to play. Football is the thing that’s helped me learn the most life lessons. You have coaches and father figures who give you so much advice. It teaches you that, despite having talent and showing your gifts on the field, it’s really off the field where you learn discipline. That’s where I became a leader and family man. My faith is what drives me to overcome any obstacles. I’m a prayer leader on my team and I’ve done it at every single level. To have the opportunity to do it at the NFL level is special; there’s a respect you gain from your teammates and peers around you. I’m a firm believer that it works every time – faith is what pulls us through.
Sports can bring everything and everybody together. In the stadium, you have a combination of cultures. You have people from the rap scene, acting scene and business scene coming together to enjoy the game of football. That’s how friendships get built. Having all of those people in one space rooting for one team is an out-of-body experience. There’s so much culture here in Atlanta, especially Black culture. It’s the food, the clothes, the style, the sports and the music that make the city. Seeing how many people came out of Atlanta and still live here makes me feel like I’m in a talented city filled with people who influence the world and I’m honored to have their support.
My goal is to be a beacon of light in the sports community. I love representing people who might not have a lot but are still grateful for life – and people who might have a lot but are still grateful for life. When I run out of the tunnel onto the field, seeing the energy in Atlanta makes me want to play so much harder for the people in the stands because they’re just as invested in the game as I am. To be a big part of the culture here is something special.