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Bijan Robinson Clarifies How to Pronounce His First Name

It may not be what you think it is.
Bijan Robinson ran for nearly 1,500 yards last season.
Bijan Robinson ran for nearly 1,500 yards last season. | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

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Even if you're only a casual football fan, you probably know who Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is. The No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 draft has shined throughout his first two years in the NFL, and last season ran for nearly 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns on his way to his first Pro Bowl appearance.

What you may not know about Robinson, however, is how to pronounce his first name. While sitting down with Steve Wyche and Steve Smith during NFL Network's "Back Together Weekend" coverage, he clarified how to say Bijan—and it's not the way everyone has said it since his days at the University of Texas.

Check it out:

You learn something new every day.

Robinson earned some serious praise this week as he gets ready to help second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. run the Falcons' offense this season. Not only was he named the 62nd best player in the NFL by his peers, but Eagles running back Saquon Barkley—one of the top RBs in football—said that "nobody" in the league can cut like Robinson does.

"Trust me," he continued. "I love myself and I think I have great cuts. There's nobody, his vision, his agility, and he can catch the ball too. It's finna get scary for a lot of people as he continues to figure it out."

Atlanta opens the 2025 season on Sept. 7 at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.


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Published | Modified
 Mike Kadlick
MICHAEL KADLICK

Mike Kadlick is a senior NFL news writer for Sports Illustrated. He’s also a New England Patriots reporter for CLNS Media, where he hosts the Patriots Daily podcast and covers the beat from Gillette Stadium. Before joining SI, Kadlick worked at WEEI sports radio in Boston. He holds a master’s degree in public relations from Boston University. When Kadlick’s not covering football, he can be found running, spending time with his wife and dog, and enjoying all things pizza.