Falcons' Bijan Robinson Talks Raheem Morris, Super Bowl Dreams, More in B/R Interview

The Atlanta Falcons' top playmaker is fully on board with the team's decision to hire new head coach Raheem Morris.

"I talked to him right after he got hired," Bijan Robinson told Bleacher Report.

"We called and talked to each other. I can already tell he's an amazing dude. I can tell that I want to play my heart out for him. What he wants to do with the team and what he's ready to do, it got me amped up and got me ready to go. I think it's going to be pretty special playing for him. It's going to be a fun time with him. I'm excited."

Change can be exciting, and it was probably much-needed in Atlanta.

Arthur Smith went 7-10 and finished in third or fourth place in the NFC South in each of his three seasons as head coach. He was also criticized for not using Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts enough, which is something that will surely change with Morris leading the way.

Morris has head coaching experience (Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011 and Atlanta's interim coach in 2020) but was most recently the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams for three years that included two playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title.

Nobody knows how difficult it is to stop offenses that consistently get the ball into their best players' hands more than experienced defensive coordinators, which could mean even better production from Robinson in his second year in the league.

All the Texas product did as a rookie was tally nearly 1,500 total yards with 976 yards and four touchdowns on the ground to go with 58 catches for 487 yards and four touchdowns through the air, underscoring the versatility and ability to impact the game in multiple ways that convinced the Falcons to select him with the No. 8 overall pick.

He put up those numbers even though he shared the backfield with Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson.

"I felt like everything happened the way it was supposed to," Robinson said when asked if his rookie season lived up to his own internal expectations. "I know there were good stats and stuff, but for me it was more about experiencing so many different things with my teammates and coaches.

"Even losing some of those games was definitely a learning experience for not just me but all of us. Obviously we wanted to win some more games and get to the playoffs and do some special things, but I know that everything happened for a reason."

It seemed like the playoffs would happen for some time, but the Falcons dropped four of their final five games to finish 7-10.

They weren't officially eliminated until their Week 18 loss to the New Orleans Saints, but Robinson at least provided reason for optimism with his combination of explosiveness in the open field, elusiveness to run past tacklers and power to pick up short yardage.

So when did he realize he could produce at a high level against NFL competition?

"The second game of the season, when I played the Packers," he said of the contest that saw him tally 124 rushing yards and 48 receiving yards in a 25-24 victory.

"Everything just slowed down for me. All the training camp and OTAs and everything we did, it kicked in that game. The first game of the season I was super anxious and trying to go out there and not mess up. But the second game, it was like, 'man, I'm ready to go. I don't think anybody can stop me.' That's when I started to feel really comfortable on the field and playing against that level of competition."

That was the jumping-off point for an excellent season, which culminated in being named a finalist for the Offensive Rookie of the Year alongside Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs and Lions tight end Sam LaPorta.

Stroud is likely going to win given the spotlight for the quarterback position and his individual brilliance while leading the Texans to an AFC South crown and playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns, but it doesn't diminish Robinson's ability to establish himself as one of the best running backs in the league in his first year.

"It would be such a blessing to know that God blessed me with that award," he said. "Not just for me but for the team. All the candidates are amazing players as well. Whoever wins the award, I know it's going to be a big moment for them and their family. But if I win it, I would just be thanking God the whole time. It would be so cool."

While he is waiting to see if he wins the award, Robinson teamed up with Courtyard by Marriott to help the official hotel of the NFL unveil the Courtyard Super Bowl Sleepover Suite at Allegiant Stadium to this year's winner.

Fans who stayed in Courtyard hotels throughout the NFL season were eligible to win an overnight stay in one of the stadium suites that was transformed into a guest room that overlooks the Allegiant Stadium field.

Jametta Barden, who is fittingly from the home of Robinson's Falcons in Atlanta, and her son, Chance Mack, won the overnight stay, which means they will be the first ones to wake up at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on the morning of Super Bowl LVIII.

Photo Credit: Courtyard by Marriott

"We got Jametta and Chance coming to sleep here before the Super Bowl and have a good time and experience something that they've never experienced before," Robinson said. "This is definitely an awesome partnership, but it's going to be more of a fun experience just giving back to them and letting them have a great time."

While Robinson was thrilled to work with Courtyard by Marriott, he has different plans for next year's big game.

"Winning the Super Bowl," he said without hesitation when asked what would make a successful 2024-25 season.

It may seem ambitious, but there is reason for optimism in Atlanta with Morris leading the way and the trio of Robinson, London and Pitts returning. The defense should also improve given the head coach's background, and it won't take significant improvement to win the NFC South after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won it at 9-8 in 2023 and 8-9 in 2022.

The Falcons will likely have to improve the quarterback position after Desmond Ridder was benched multiple times and struggled with consistency on his way to 12 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions in his second year.

Taylor Heinicke was a solid backup at times, but he likely isn't the long-term answer at the position either. That means Atlanta might need to use the No. 8 overall pick of the draft on a signal-caller or add a veteran via a trade or free agency to live up to Robinson's clear goal.

"Maybe people don't believe that we could, but doing it in a way that we want to do it for God, for our families, for the program would be the most incredible thing," he said of lifting the Lombardi Trophy. "I hope it happens, and I know we're going to work hard to try to do it."

That is exactly what Atlanta fans want to hear.