Falcons' Bijan Robinson Aims to Improve Even Further in 2026

The star running back looks to build on his dominant 2025 season.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 4:34pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting the powerful running of Falcons RB Bijan Robinson, with his movements broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the team's colors of red, black, and white.Bijan Robinson's tireless pursuit of perfection could elevate the Falcons' offense to new heights.Atlanta Today

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is coming off an incredible 2025 season, earning First Team All-Pro honors and finishing fourth in the Offensive Player of the Year voting. However, the 24-year-old is not satisfied and is determined to be 'better in all aspects' in 2026. While it may be difficult for Robinson to significantly improve on his 2,298 yards from scrimmage, there are a few areas where he could potentially get even more effective, including increasing his production on under-center runs, improving his short-yardage efficiency, and shoring up his pass blocking.

Why it matters

Robinson's continued development could make the Falcons' offense even more potent in 2026 as the team transitions to a new scheme under head coach Kevin Stefanski. Improving his skills in areas like under-center runs and short-yardage situations would make Robinson an even more well-rounded and dangerous weapon for Atlanta.

The details

Robinson averaged 5.5 yards per rush from the shotgun compared to only 4.3 yards per run when taking handoffs from under center in 2025. With Stefanski's offense expected to feature more under-center runs, Robinson will need to improve in that area. He also converted just 45.5% of his third- or fourth-and-1 rush attempts into first downs last season, ranking 44th out of 49 qualifying running backs. Additionally, Robinson's pass blocking was a relative weakness, as he yielded 13 pressures on 83 pass-blocking snaps, one of the highest pressure rates for a running back.

  • Robinson is entering his fourth NFL season in 2026.

The players

Bijan Robinson

A 24-year-old running back for the Atlanta Falcons who is coming off a dominant 2025 season, earning First Team All-Pro honors.

Kevin Stefanski

The new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who is implementing a new offensive scheme that is expected to feature more under-center runs.

Tyler Allgeier

The Falcons' backup running back who converted 57.1% of his third- or fourth-and-1 rush attempts into first downs in 2025, a higher rate than Robinson.

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What they’re saying

“Last year was a cool year. But this year I want to be even better in all aspects.”

— Bijan Robinson, Falcons Running Back

What’s next

Robinson and the Falcons will look to implement Stefanski's new offensive scheme during the offseason program and training camp, with a focus on improving Robinson's production in under-center runs and short-yardage situations.

The takeaway

While it may be difficult for Bijan Robinson to significantly improve on his dominant 2025 season, his desire to be 'better in all aspects' shows his relentless drive to become an even more complete and dangerous running back. If he can shore up some of his relative weaknesses, such as under-center runs and short-yardage efficiency, Robinson could take his game to new heights and make the Falcons' offense even more potent in 2026.