FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — It hasn’t been the easiest training camp for the Atlanta Falcons, but Bijan Robinson’s return to the field this week has made everything a little bit brighter.
The fourth-year running back signed a three-year, $66.75 million extension on Wednesday that made him the highest-paid running back in the NFL — at least until Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs gets a new deal.
“That extension is well deserved,” Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. said. “He’s the best running back in the league. We make a joke in the quarterback room sometimes that, ‘If you get in trouble, just Beej it.’ It does give you a lot of confidence back there.”
Getting the ball to Robinson any way possible — or “Beejing it” — has been a good strategy for Atlanta. He has more yards from scrimmage (5,648) than any player in the league since being drafted eighth overall by the Falcons in 2023.
“Obviously, we’re very excited for him, excited for us,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Everybody understands how we feel about Bijan the person and Bijan the football player.”
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Robinson missed the first six practices of training camp while the new deal was being negotiated. Stefanski called the hold-in “very amicable.”
“I know what he’s about. He knows what we’re about,” Stefanski said. “As a coach, you want to get your guys ready for the football season, and he was eager, beyond eager to get back out there.”
Robinson asked agent Nicole Lynn multiple times if he could participate in any way, but she urged patience.
“She just said, ‘It might get stressful, but if you just continue to put a smile on your face, it’ll be all right,” Robinson said. “As y’all could probably tell, I was itching. I was on that sideline like, ‘Bruh, I got to get out there. I want to be out there. I want to be with the guys.’”
Robinson is guaranteed $51 million in the deal, and its base value of $66.75 million makes him the highest-paid running back in league history based on average annual value ($22.25 million). The previous high was set by Saquon Barkley, who is making $20.6 million per year in Philadelphia. Robinson’s new deal, which has a maximum value of $75 million, runs through the 2030 season.
He had two years left on his contract headed into this offseason.
“I think it’s kind of rare to do a running back deal two years early, so for them to do that is something I will never forget,” Robinson said. “It’s a testament to the faith they have in me, and I think that’s pretty cool.”
Robinson’s friend and acting mentor Matthew McConaughey was the first person to text him congratulations as soon as news of the deal became official, Robinson said, but the running back promised he wouldn’t change because of his newfound riches.
“There’s no pressure,” he said. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich “gave me some advice, which I already knew, but it was cool to hear him say it. He was saying you got this contract from who you were before, so why change? Never act like you have to be Superman on the field. Just be Bijan.”
That’s been plenty good since the 24-year-old reached the NFL. Robinson has increased his single-season scrimmage yards total by at least 400 yards in each of his three seasons — from 1,463 in 2023 to 1,887 in 2024 to 2,298 last year. That 2,298-yard mark was the ninth most by any player in the league since 1999. If he increases that total by another 400 yards this season, he would far surpass Chris Johnson’s NFL record of 2,509 scrimmage yards set in 2009.
“Bijan embodies everything we want the Atlanta Falcons to stand for,” Falcons first-year general manager Ian Cunningham said. “He approaches his craft with humility and consistency, elevates the people around him, is a tremendous teammate and represents this organization with class in our community. As we continue building this football team, we want to recognize and reward players who perform at a high level, positively impact our culture every day, and embrace the responsibility that comes with wearing the Falcons uniform.”
Robinson said he and Gibbs have talked in the last week, as the Lions running back was also sitting out practice in hopes of getting a new deal.
“We talk a lot,” Robinson said. “The Bijan-Gibbs debate is actually cool to see. It actually helps us both out. We are always trying to compete against each other. We just told each other, ‘Hang in there. Everything’s going to get done.’ I hope he gets the most (money) he can. He definitely deserves it all.”
Robinson’s contract is likely the last of a flurry of preseason deals for the Falcons, who in the last two months have re-signed wide receiver Drake London (four years, $100 million guaranteed, $150 million max value), offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron (four years, $60 million guaranteed, $96 million max value) and tight end Kyle Pitts (three years, $36 million guaranteed, $56 million max value) in addition to Robinson.
“Those are all guys we believe in and all guys who fit who we are,” Stefanski said.
The Falcons plan on letting Robinson acclimate for several days before he is a full participant in practice. He was not in any contact drills during Wednesday’s padded practice. His three-year deal will allow him to potentially negotiate a third NFL contract before he turns 30, which Robinson said was a priority in negotiations.
He emphasized, though, that he wants to finish his career in Atlanta.
“I just want to create a legacy here,” he said, “for the fans, for the city.”
