Since he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 2023, superstar NFL running back Bijan Robinson has been an undeniable force for the team. As of publication, he’s rushed for over 4,500 yards, scored 29 touchdowns, was selected for two Pro Bowls, and was a First-Team All-Pro in 2025. Plus, off the field, he’s made a huge impact in the Atlanta area with his continued commitment to increasing the literacy rate among children in the community.
Knowing all of that, you can imagine my excitement in having a one-on-one conversation with Robinson for Men’s Journal. During the interview, we talked about what he feels is the key to success for the Falcons in finishing the current season on a good note, while also briefly touching on the recent addition of his new teammate, veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. Additionally, staying on the topic of football, I asked what words of advice he had to share with his alma mater, the Texas Longhorns, as they’re in the back half of their season.
But before we got there, Robinson and I talked about his off-the-field presence. This includes discussing his charitable work, along with his proud brand partnership with Invisalign, and how the company’s products have helped him achieve a winning smile.
“Confidence Is a Big Thing for Me”
Men’s Journal: Tell me more about your partnership with Invisalign and why you opted for those instead of traditional braces? Although I have a pretty good idea it has something to do with your profession.
Robinson: Confidence for me is a big thing. And for me, my smile and my oral health, that’s one of the biggest things in my life. Just to take care and to make sure it’s at its highest peak. I wanted to do that without wires and brackets. And to do it in a way that I can wear something in my everyday life that I don’t have to worry about and that I can take out and always put back in. But, you know, I think it’s been huge to create discipline in myself. To wearing it every single day and just seeing the small shifts in my teeth and the small shifts in my smile and the confidence that I gain in my smile every single day by wearing it.
But I think the coolest thing is people have been asking me: how I’ve been enjoying it? How I’ve been liking it? How I’ve loved the partnership with the Invisalign Clear Liners? And I just tell them, ‘Man, it’s been great.’ And I think I’ve already convinced a couple people to wear it and to use it.
And I think that’s what it’s all about. To make sure people are confident in themselves and confident in their smile as well. And that’s why this partnership has been amazing for me.
Men’s Journal: As someone who went through the traditional braces route, I bet it’s also nice not having the strict food restrictions as well. [Laughing]
Robinson: For sure. For sure.
Men’s Journal: Before we make a hard pivot to the NFL, let’s talk about your nonprofit work. Since being with the Falcons, you’ve been incredibly committed to promoting literacy among young people in the Atlanta area. What inspired your passion there?
Robinson: The reading and literacy in Atlanta has been super low for kids [only roughly 41% of Metro Atlanta third graders are ‘proficient in reading’]… If kids’ literacy isn’t at the level that it should be, then they don’t know much about the world or what’s going on in the world. Or they can’t read to get themselves in the best situation possible. So for me, my team, my auntie, and my foundation, that’s been the biggest thing.
Key to Atlanta Falcons’ Success Is “Execution At a High Level”
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images
Men’s Journal: So let’s talk football. Atlanta recently picked up veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. Any thoughts you’d like to share on the acquisition?
Robinson: Yeah, I mean, shoot, you know, Andy’s a really respected player in the league. I mean, he just got here today [October 19], so I haven’t got to talk to him yet. But I’ll definitely be able to talk to him tomorrow.
Men’s Journal: And kind of piggybacking off of that, what would you say would be the keys to success for the rest of the season for the Falcons?
Robinson: Just Execution. Yeah. Execution at a high level in the run game and the pass game. Playing that complementary football on offense and defense. And then us just helping the defense out, staying off the field as much as possible. But yeah, it’s just executing at a very high level. When the play is called, knowing what the play is and understanding the scheme of everything. I think when we do that at a high level, then we’re a very hard team to stop. So that’s what we’ve got to continue to keep doing from week to week. It starts this week against the 49ers.
Longhorns Have to “Trust in the Scheme”
Men’s Journal: Taking things back a bit, I have to ask. Any words of advice for your former team, the Texas Longhorns, as they enter the second half of the season?
I think the biggest thing for them is to trust in the scheme. You know, Sark [Head Coach Steve Sarkisian] is a very enhanced play caller. He’s like a mad scientist when it comes to play calling, and he understands who he’s going against. He understands the defense that he goes against every single week. So, just trusting in him, trusting in the scheme, building confidence in it.
They’ve got to understand what comes next in these four weeks, five weeks, is very important. And I know we have a gauntlet coming up, so you know, it’s going to be a true test on who we are as a team and what they can do coming up, moving forward.
Robinson’s Big Advice for Future NFL Players Is Great Life Advice for All
Getty Images/Kevin Sabitus
Men’s Journal: One last question for you. Since you’ve been in the league, what would be the biggest lesson that you’ve learned that you would want to pass along to people coming behind you?
Robinson: I’ll say taking everything one day at a time. Don’t move ahead. Take everything one day, one week at a time. Because when you start looking ahead, when you start looking at the next week, when you’re not focused on what you’re doing now, then you can lose sight of who’s in front of you. You can take for granted who’s in front of you or the things that you have on task. Whether it’s on the field, or off the field, or just in life.
So yeah, I’ll say just embracing every day and maximizing that day to the best of your ability. And I think that’s how you get better in life. I think that’s how you get better in a year, in a week. But that’s been the biggest thing that I’ve learned that I would tell somebody else coming behind me.
Again, you can catch Bijan Robinson in action when he plays games with the Atlanta Falcons, and you can check out Invisalign for yourself.
Related: Pro Golfer Max Homa Talks Fatherhood, Coterie Partnership & Upcoming TGL Season (Exclusive)
