Atlanta Falcons News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Power Rankings

Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Falcons' Bijan Robinson Names All-Time Favorite Running Back With Zero Hesitation

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Meyer | Last updated Oct 20, 2025 12:33 AM ET

Key Points:

Bijan Robinson starred in Atlanta's game Sunday night
He was compared to a Hall of Famer by Cris Collinsworth
Robinson named his all-time favorite NFL RB

The Atlanta Falcons battled the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football with offseason friends Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey, two of the NFL's top running backs, battling it out in San Francisco.

McCaffrey scored a short touchdown on a Herculean effort to give the 49ers a 20-10 lead late in the game, but Robinson also accounted well for himself with nearly 100 total yards and a receiving touchdown toward the end of the game.

The Falcons running back and former Texas Longhorns star revealed earlier in the week that he has a clear choice for his favorite player all-time at the position, telling Rodney Harrison of NBC the one running back that impressed him the most growing up.

Oct 19, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) runs for a touchdown during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Robinson Picks Tomlinson as Favorite RB

Cris Collinsworth of NBC revealed that Bijan Robinson's favorite running back is former Chargers star LaDainian Tomlinson, who played his college ball at TCU before starring in the NFL.

"Bijan told Rodney this week that his favorite player was LaDainian Tomlinson, wanna see why? They both do the same thing really well, that move looked identical there," Collinsworth said as NBC showed highlights of both runners weaving through traffic and scoring touchdowns.

"They were both tremendous finishers, pinballing off of defenders left and right and nobody kept them out of the end zone, two of the truly exciting running backs we have ever seen," Collinsworth concluded.

Robinson, McCaffrey Square Off at Levi's Stadium

Robinson and McCaffrey's duel became a hot topic among NFL fans on Sunday night.

Both players showed off great receiving and running skills, further cementing themselves as two of the NFL's most dynamic players at their position.

San Francisco held on for a 20-10 win on National Running Backs day as McCaffrey and offensive lineman Trent Williams donned silk red jackets for the momentous occasion.

Robinson's team didn't get over the hump, but fans and players alike know he is approaching the same rarified air as players like McCaffrey.

"He is a different breed, he is a freak of nature," Falcons receiver Drake London said before the game about Robinson.

Tomlinson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

Robinson still has plenty of time left in his playing career, but already returns are positive that he has a chance to match or maybe even surpass what the former Chargers star did during his illustrious career.

As Collinsworth and other avid NFL film watchers would say, "The tape doesn't lie;" Robinson has the physical and mental makeup of a generational talent in Atlanta and another great role model (and competitor) to take after in McCaffrey.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: