As the San Francisco 49ers’ new Director of Player Personnel, the NFL’s newest executive has officially made it. He was acquired from the Washington Commanders in a trade that sent a 2026 sixth-round pick to Washington. This deal marks a significant shift for Robinson. There’s a reason he’s been the centerpiece of the Commanders’ offense for the last three seasons.
The trade took place just ahead of the Commanders’ preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, during which Robinson did not participate or attend, largely due to swirling trade rumors. Robinson had gotten a few signals that he might be landing in San Francisco. He knew at this point that a lot of other teams were getting interested.
When Robinson joined the 49ers, he wasted little time in making that impact. He started off the season as the team’s No. 2 running back, immediately slotted behind starter Christian McCaffrey. On his end, Coach Kyle Shanahan can barely contain his excitement over the shiny new addition. We brought him in to be our No. 2 back. Shanahan has had a long history with Robinson and was always a huge fan since his college days.
Robinson has taken on the Commanders gallantly as his stickwork and speed have made him a highly dangerous, multi-threat danger. During his three-year collegiate career, he racked up 2,329 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, while adding 65 catches for 587 yards and five touchdowns through the air. He’s just a great player. That promise is what makes him an incredible boon to the 49ers as they seek to retool for a championship season.
In a whirlwind weekend, Robinson quickly acclimated to his new environment and participated in his first practice with the team. He shared his experience, likening the excitement to “the first day of school.” He confessed, “I was confused, I got lost in the hall for a minute, but I found my way to class in no time.”
Robinson shared his excitement about playing next to McCaffrey. I’m prepared to write my next chapter as well as Christian is prepared to write his. I agree, and my job right now is to support him in every way that I can. With your help, we can make a dynamic league-dominating duo! This sentiment highlights Robinson’s eagerness to contribute positively to the team’s performance.
Robinson’s last California trip in 2022 was to the 49ers as one of their 30 pre-draft official visitors. He developed an extremely close relationship with the coaching staff, most notably then assistant head coach, Anthony Lynn, and running backs coach Bobby Turner. This connection presumably helped ease his transition to the team.
Despite the excitement of joining a new franchise, Robinson acknowledged that learning the terminology of the 49ers’ offense will take some time. Still, he’s confident that their zone-heavy, run-first scheme fits his playing style and talent perfectly.
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