Falcons’ Bijan Robinson sets the record straight on name pronunciation

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has clarified the correct pronunciation of his first name after two years in the NFL. During an appearance on NFL Network, Robinson stated his name should be pronounced "Bih-ZHON" with emphasis on the second syllable, correcting the common mispronunciation "Bee-ZHON".

Despite the name clarification, Robinson's on-field performance remains exceptional. The 23-year-old earned Pro Bowl honors in 2024 after dramatically improving his stats from his rookie season. He increased his rushing yards from 976 to 1,456 and touchdowns from 4 to 14, establishing himself among the league's elite running backs.

Entering his third season, Robinson remains central to Atlanta's offense as the team transitions to quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Their connection showed promise in 2024 when Robinson averaged 118 rushing yards across three games with Penix, including a career-high 170-yard performance in the season finale against Carolina.

The Falcons' offensive line returns four starters, with center Ryan Neuzil replacing Drew Dalman. Neuzil brings experience with 12 career starts and 50% of offensive snaps played last season. Atlanta's rushing attack faces a potentially favorable Week 1 matchup against Tampa Bay, whose defense is dealing with linebacker Anthony Walker Jr.'s injury absence.