Bijan Robinson - Running Back, falcons Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-08-05 | Full transcript (primary source).
On August 5, 2026, Bijan Robinson, the running back for the Atlanta Falcons, addressed the media during a press conference following the completion of a new contract deal. The event took place at the Falcons' training facility, where Robinson discussed his emotions regarding the deal and his eagerness to return to the field with his teammates.
Transcript
Robinson: Yes, so how how emotional was it to receive the news that this deal was getting done to be able to get back to work? Yeah, man, I mean, well first off, you know, I gotta thank God You know without him obviously the deal wouldn't got done and I wouldn't have been here So, you know, I just gotta just continue to worship and praise him For all that he's given me all that he's blessed me with so it's a it's such a cool thing to like see Just the prop for the process just like my teammates and everybody kind of just Behind me and just telling me, you know, we're it's gonna get done like it's gonna be great And then obviously my my agent Nicole She's always just told me during this process like, you know, it could look a lot of different ways But you know if you just stay who you are throughout the whole thing and you know Make sure that you're just you know It might get stressful But if you just continue to put the smile on my on your face, like everything will be alright so when did they get done like she called me and we were just super happy for What what was about to happen and how it did happen and the whole process for it as y'all could probably tell like I Was itching boy, like I was I was on that sideline like bro Like I got to get out there but when it got done like it was it was a cool moment for all of us It was hard like for me, you know, I'm not the guy to sit Like I want to be out there. I want to be with the team I want to be like with the guy so for me to have to watch It and watch when like there's not an end like, you know, just just watch for it for it to be a good teammate Like it was it was pretty tough But when she called me I was like, you know And I was even kind of calling her and being like yo, like can I just do a little something? But you know that that's just all part of the the plan and the business of the business side of things So, you know when it all did work out like I obviously I was I was out there yesterday and it was it was pretty cool No, yeah, yeah, no you saw that for yeah, we the offense the offense lost a lost a rep So we had to get the pushups in so, you know, I had to do it with them I couldn't how to get down how to get down. It's all good What did you learn maybe even about yourself by having to be on the sidelines and watching as well as some of your teammates? Yeah, you know for me, I actually kind of enjoyed it. Not the fact that I wasn't out there but the fact like Now it was the time I got to see outside looking in and got to Really be a leader to some of the guys especially in my room the running back room and you know kind of see what they're doing because I know when I'm out there or You know when I got back on the sideline like coach Petrie's telling me something so I can't really watch the guys go so for me, it was cool just to see that perspective and to If something did go wrong or something they go bad or if it could have got corrected Like I was right there to help them and to just give them the right advice to make the next play So, you know, I feel like as a leader it was it was really cool To experience that and you know, I'm never gonna stop being that guy And now that I did do that, you know, I know I can I can help those guys in all aspects of their game as well So it was a it was a cool experience, but it was definitely getting getting a little tough tough at times, too I don't know if it was and I mean, I think it was just like the respect that you know We mutually have for each other the guys upstairs Ian Matt costa fansky, you know, mr. Blank like the respect they have for me And how I can help this program and and then vice versa like what I try to give to You know everybody here whether it's on the field off the field and you know, my my whole job obviously is is to be here to win games But again, like to make the game exciting for everybody all the fans everybody that watches me play You know, that's that's where the blessing is. So it was it was cool Like, you know, I think it's kind of rare to do a deal Especially a running back deal two years early. So for them to do that Was was definitely something that I'll never forget and something that is just it's a testament to To my faith and to what they had their faith that they have in me and I think it's pretty cool Yeah Yeah, you know when you sit back and reflect You know, did you have time to let that soak in to say this is what I want to do since I was a little kid And now the moment came, you know, what has that been like just to say men's written this really happened? Yeah, it's it was a great moment especially like talking to my family like after I talked to Nicole and Just seeing their reaction talking to my girlfriend to my auntie like everybody that was just who I called that night after she told me That's when it all hit and I was like man, this is obviously something that a lot of kids dream dream to have and worked their whole life for so for me to get to experience it and to You know even hopefully help other running backs out You know, I think it's cool to continue to grow this position In all facets of the game whether it's past catching running the football like just being a dynamic threat on the field Like when when you can have guys like that and have guys come after you like that. That's how you grow the game so it all that's where it all hit for me and you know, there was Even yesterday like there's all these college running back some of the top running backs in college just texted me just you know Just saying thank you And I was like that's that's when I was like man. That's that's a cool thing just because I know where the position goes But to get the position back to where you know It used to be is is the whole goal of what I'm trying to do You know this is when it comes to contracts, you know, a lot of times you're getting paid not for what you've done But what they expect you to do. Yeah numbers you've been considered, you know, the best if not one of you know in the league It's a pressure for you to say, you know, this is what I've done Not the Falcons made this investment me. I have to do more. How do you approach? Nope. There's no pressure, you know, I break told me some advice That already knew but it was cool to hear from him and he was saying You know, you got this contract from who you were before so he was like why change, you know You should always be yourself, you know, never change never act like you got to be Superman on the field, you know just be Bijon and you know, you don't have to be nobody else and I Knew that because just my faith and how I go about it like I never you know ever get complacent or you know, never just oh because I got it now like I can I Have to do so much more like if I just play my game how I always play it and I always know how to play it then, you know, everything's gonna take care of itself, so That that that's a cool question that you asked me that because we actually just talked about it And you know, it was it was awesome to see brick to come back and that's the first thing he told me and I was Like bro, like how are you, you know? So it was it was definitely a cool moment. But yeah, I'm always gonna be myself. I'm never gonna change after getting this and You know, I that's just who I am as a person like that's just who he blessed me to be. So yeah Yeah, no, we have You know, obviously we we talked a lot just because we're kind of we're in the same, you know back conversation You know our the beyond Gibbs debate is is actually cool to see It actually helps us both out because you know every single Sunday or whatever day we play You know, we're always trying to compete against each other and to have a guy like that I can compete with and and whatever game he's playing in and whatever game I'm playing in Like we just know that we have to give our best effort So it's cool to to experience that and then we just we just told each other just hang in there Everything's gonna get done. Everything's gonna gonna be alright and You know, it's it's cool to see him go through it, too And I hope he gets the most out of you know, what he deserves because he deserves it deserves it all But it's definitely a cool feeling to see two two off into guys offensive weapon guys that got drafted in the same class And and now that we're in our going in our fourth year We're talking about extensions and you know, it's just it's just a testament to what God bless us with and and who we are as people Obviously your journey is far from over but when you sign a contract of this magnitude and you reflect on the points in your journey So far what are some of the things that come to mind that have brought you to this point? Yeah it where I'm at now like it just reminded me of you know when I first got here and Arthur Smith text me this morning and You know, he said, you know just because you know, you got this contract like it don't mean that you gotta You know start buying everything, you know, just just be yourself, you know just be myself and you know, I want to just you know, just say thank you to him because You know, he made it hard for me for a reason and when I first got here Like he made me do everything and he had a plan for me and he made me go to receiver kickoff return putt return running back like I did I did everything and I had to know everything and for him to do that and for him to just understand the plan from when I first got here and You know, it was it was a very tough first summer for me But you know now that I'm sitting here reflecting on that like it was all for a reason obviously and you know then then with Raheem coming in And continue in the same plan and Zach Robinson continue in the same plan and then now with Kevin and Tommy like You know, I just get blessed with these coaches And then with coach Petrie, you know, he's been here the whole time like he's the I say he's the best running back coach and it's not just because of What's the product on the field? But just who he is as a man as a person, but he made it hard for me Like that this journey people think that you know It could be easy or or I can just I can just get things handed to me like now that was never the plan With coach Petrie and yeah, he's a father figure to me a big brother But on the field no matter what we do like I don't care for I had the 2,000 yard season like he's like, bro There's more in the tank. There's more in the tank. So Just reflecting on all that stuff and then now to sign the contract like, you know, even coach Petrie is like bro Like this country don't mean nothing. Don't mean nothing. So Yeah, it's a blessing to reflect on it like that and to see what I had to go through in all the great ways to get here And I'm just looking forward to continuing it moving forward. You mentioned pass catching earlier Petrie Literally yesterday talked about your past protection has also improved a ton of the last three seasons Yeah, that's been as been as much as our focus on the run game on the past game that's that's right there It's kind of weird doing past protection in the offseason because anybody trying to get hit With a bag, but that's what I've been doing and that's what I what I love to do. I grew to love it and Because I know if I can pass protect if I can if you can line me up a receiver or a running bag You just don't know what what's gonna happen So I tell other running backs to you know, make sure you guys Know how to pass protect because everything else is great, you know, everything else looks good You know, you can score touchdowns all that stuff. But if you can get a knockout shot knockout block That's just as cool as scoring a touchdown. So it's a it's something that I love to do In college. I hated it. Like I told Sark I was like sorry anything but this please like but you know And then I felt obviously it's a it's important. It's an important job So it was it's always been fun for me kind of silly But we've asked you about your phone after big games that you've had before what it looks like What's your phone look like after this? Yeah, I'd have said it now. I'd have said it down It was just messages like social media like everything And I know that's what it comes with I know like people are excited which is which is great But well, I think it was like 12 12 o'clock right right Before our meeting I was like, yeah I gotta I gotta set this phone down because there's so many just notifications, but it was cool It was it was definitely a blessing school feeling to see people see it and to see people are happy about it Especially my teammates like it was the coolest thing to see my teammates happy because you know I try to do do everything for them and and leave for them and and just put a smile on my face So whenever there may be a bad day or something like they can always come to me or see me with a smile and You know, it was cool to see them super happy and and with that energy in the morning when I walked in the door Like, you know, they couldn't believe it. So it was cool Well, there's been some cool people but like as soon as the news hit Matthew McConaughey hit me as soon as it as soon as It hit I think I think hit on like 756 like 758. He texted me. He texted me So but yeah a lot of like awesome like really cool people text me But like it was cool to see him, you know, as soon as it hit like he was the first one So that was cool. I know you said, you know, this isn't gonna change you or anything like that, but just mentally Yeah, you know the field the last two days Feel different is an exhale for you like it's obviously going through the whole offseason. It's not your mind Yeah, you're out there. How do you describe it? Oh, man. I'm happy like I'm happy. I'll probably see me out there They're slowly ramping me up. But even during team drills, you know, I had to go over there and and Do my conditioning and run and stuff. So I'm trying to tell them like bro, like let's do it But I got to give back to the guys Because that's just it's just that's just what it means to me and they mean a lot to me So, you know, I love to be like I'm a competitor and I love to talk I don't talk smacking games obviously, but to the defense like I be talking talking and but they love it though Cuz it just gives them better. So When I get back out there, you know, I can't wait to get back out there I think it's like later on this week and and then we'll we'll go from there But yeah, it's cool to school to be back, you know with the pads on and and get it going Good I'll just say us speaking of teammates. Are you aware of what the quarterbacks say about you as a safety valve? Yeah, yeah, I am it's um, it's always cool like to to know that both the guys Even the new guys, you know, they're they're like be you know if if all else fails like you the guy like and they don't it's cool cuz you know, I always say like You know You could take a five-yard pass and take a 50 yards or you could take a 15 yard pass take it like they were allowing me To not just catch the ball, but they're allowing me to catch it and score or make something spectacular happen And you know, it's cool to to have that trust from them because anywhere where I'm out in the field They just look and then they'll look and they'll see me they're like, all right, you know, just just to make sure but you know, it's cool to be that kind of guy for them. Obviously Drake's the best receiver ever You know, he's he's the target And then Johan he's balling OZ balling all the new guys young guys, obviously Zacharias, you know, he's gonna be a star man So and then Kyle is a star so it's like it's cool seeing all the the new faces to even in my room, you know B-Rob is It's been learning a lot been getting so much better and and then you know Nate TG like all these guys Have been playing really good cash. So Me like to back to his question seeing all that from my perspective and not being on the field It's been a really cool thing really cool experience because they're getting better and every single day is gonna be hard and You know, I can't wait to just you know embrace that hard with them So it'll be cool. I know Nicole like You know negotiate a lot of contract and stuff like that But how important was the three years for you just with running backs like, you know Trying to reach the market as many times before 30. So how important is that for you? Yeah, that was that was huge You know, I know running backs typically negotiate for four plus years so for Nicole to negotiate that and for them to come down and in that year to make it three years is You know is it's pretty cool because I know where this position can go. Obviously, I pray for no injuries and all that stuff and continue to stay healthy through this journey, but you know for that to happen is is You know, it's cool. Obviously like the three years is just a Is a break point because you know, I try to go nowhere. I'm trying to be here trying to stay here That's why I'm happy. They got it done two years early because like, you know I just want to I just want to create a legacy here man, like, you know for the fans for this city You know, the city of Atlanta's been nothing but support for me And I need them to to feel that because you know when she'll we I live out here in brassalton brassalton, Georgia And I beat I begin gas and the gas clerk, you know be just happy just you know smiles like I don't think she watched football her life, but she knows Like just who I am and and that's that's the effect I want to have on on everybody in the city So that's why we're trying to work as hard as possible man to like The to to win here because you know just seeing all the support here is is a cool thing And I just want to be a part of it So many guys say You know, so many guys say, you know, it's a business. Yeah, I mean Your agent was with you throughout so much of the process communicating What was part of the business or going through this? I don't want to say surprise you but you've learned, you know from it That was most important to you Yeah, um the cool thing the cool thing with them and with nicole, um even ian like They they know who I am as a person and i'll be trying to stay as far as away as possible. So She was like we're gonna handle this Um, you know you're gonna If we need something like you can you'll step in but you know, I was I was really out of it Um for most of it like only thing was the business part was just not practicing. Uh, But that's that just happens. Uh, but other than that like she she took she took the wheel She took care of everything and you know They were they did the same thing upstairs and it's it was a smooth smooth process for me. So But I know like, you know, if if guys do go through it, you know after me, um, just just embrace the process Don't get stressed out. Uh, that's I think that's the one thing that I Try not to do like and she told me to like just just stay who you are, you know Let me stress if that's the that's what I have to worry about. Um So it was cool.