Bijan Robinson, the Atlanta Falcons’ standout running back, has made significant strides in both his personal development and professional growth this offseason. At only 23 years of age, Robinson has already started a world tour that has featured stops in Japan, Dubai, and most recently Germany. One such event was his transformative trip to Brooklyn, New York. This offseason trip was instrumental in not only solidifying the trust that he had with head coach Raheem Morris.
Recently, Robinson and Morris flew together to attend a boxing match between Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Lamont Roach at the Barclays Center. This experience gave them an opportunity to connect off the field and foster their relationship beyond the Xs and Os in preparation for the ensuing season. Morris, who grew up in New Jersey and played football at Hofstra University, brought along some old friends to help integrate Robinson into his circle. This program helped build community and it provided Robinson an opportunity to learn more about Morris’s history and friendships.
“We were able to do different things off the field,” – Raheem Morris
Robinson’s goal was to step into a larger leadership role this season. Beyond the running back room, he hopes to shape the entirety of a loaded Falcons offense, led by second-year QB Michael Penix Jr. His teammates can already see the difference in him.
“I think Bijan makes everybody better around him as a person, as a leader,” – Chris Lindstrom
Robinson’s extraordinary influence on everyone around him hardly needs elaboration. Since then, he’s gained international acclaim for his uplifting energy and magnetic stage presence, earning him the nickname as the “Motivator of Hope.” Lindstrom added,
“If you’re having a bad day, Bijan is putting a smile on your face. If you need a pick me up, he’s there to give you a hug. So, he’s special in that sense.”
Particularly this offseason, he made the effort to be more explosive. He has been training with drills to improve his speed. He’s particularly intent on mastering the sprint 100 yards in his quest to set up longer runs this year. Last year, he had the fewest runs over 20 yards among the top five rushers. He never logged a touchdown of 40-plus yards. During his second NFL season, he led the league in rushing yards. In addition, he tied for the third-most rushing touchdowns, further establishing himself as one of the league’s top running backs.
“We are all waiting for that Saquon type of season for when it comes to explosives,” – Bijan Robinson
“If you can build chemistry with your coach and if he can obviously create trust in you on and off the field, I mean, that’s huge for you as a player,” – Bijan Robinson
The visit to Brooklyn gave Morris and Robinson a chance to learn more about each other. It gave them the chance to connect with one another on a personal level.
“Me and [Morris] got to bond, and he got to know who I was more as a person, as I did him,” – Bijan Robinson
Morris noted how well Robinson adapted to his social elite background when they went out together. The intimacy and humor that enjoyed between his friends struck a chord with Robinson.
“And I’m going to tell you, I have a cool friend group, I think. But he has them dudes [that] are wild. They’re super funny, they’re super, super sweet people. But you can tell when they’re together it’s all jokes, endless jokes,” – Raheem Morris
As Robinson gets ready for his first full season, his offseason experiences are apparent. They’ve certainly changed the way he thinks about leadership and teamwork. He’s focused on taking his own game to the next level, while motivating those around him to do the same.
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