One of Atlanta’s biggest remaining roster holes has been filled. The Falcons lost an excellent backup running back in Tyler Allgeier, and now they’ve got another Robinson to spell Bijan.
That would be Brian Robinson Jr., who signed the latest in a long line of one-year contracts the Falcons have handed out this offseason. The former Commander and 49er will slot right in to a B. Robinson 1-2 punch in the backfield, providing a bulldozing complement to Atlanta’s superstar starter, and will do on a deal
Ian Rapoport reports is for $2.5 million.
The 27-year-old back was a third round pick in 2022, and somehow managed to only miss four games after being shot in the knee and glute in an armed robbery, which is astonishing in its own right. He put together three 700+ yard rushing seasons in a row for Washington with 17 rushing touchdowns over that span, but fell out of favor with Dan Quinn’s coaching staff after 2024 and was traded to the 49ers. Robinson was lightly used in a backfield led by Christian McCaffrey, managing 92 carries for 400 yards and a pair of touchdowns, before hitting free agency for the first time in 2026.
At his best, Robinson is a bulldozer who punishes tacklers, picks up yards after contact, and can manage chunk gains even if his speed doesn’t make him a threat to break anything beyond 20 yards all that often. There’s no standout trait to hang your hat on here, but he has a track record as a solid starting-caliber running back who can approximate the short yardage bullying and grinding a defense to dust that Allgeier brought to Atlanta. As a backup for just $2.5 million and no long-term commitment, anything we’d complain about would be quibbling; he’s about as good an RB2 as you could get at this point.
Robinson’s physicality is a major draw here, but he’s been a productive receiver out of the backfield when called upon. In 2023, when Washington really leaned into using him that way, he put up 36 receptions for 368 yards and four touchdowns, showcasing that this can be a part of his game. Those reliable hands will help the Falcons avoid being overly predictable when Brian is in for Bijan, and it will enhance the threat level for this offense when they line up both players in the same backfield.
Brian Robinson isn’t going to be Allgeier—he’s fumbled eight times compared to Allgeier’s one, and has not been as efficient a runner in his career to this point—but he’ll likely fare well running behind a quality line in Atlanta. Give him a warm welcome, and let’s hope the Robinsons put together a stellar season in 2026.
