A’Shawn Robinson Bio
A’Shawn Robinson is an American professional football defensive end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). Born on March 21, 1995, in Fort Worth, Texas, he played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Robinson was selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Throughout his professional career, he has also played for the Los Angeles Rams, where he achieved significant success, including winning Super Bowl LVI. Known for his imposing size and skills on the defensive line, Robinson has become a key player in the NFL.
Early Life and Background
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, A’Shawn Robinson attended Arlington Heights High School. In addition to football, he competed on his high school’s varsity basketball and track & field teams. A two-way lineman for the Arlington Heights Yellowjackets football team, Robinson was coached by Todd Whitten in his senior season. After the season, Robinson played for the West squad in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and was selected to the 2012 USA Today All-American Second-team. Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Robinson was listed as the No. 4 defensive tackle in the nation in 2013. ESPN listed him as a four-star recruit and ranked him 105th overall on their “ESPN 300” ranking. Robinson chose to attend Alabama over Texas, Southern California, Louisiana State, Arkansas, and Florida State. He was originally verbally committed to attend Texas as of February 2012. Just prior to National Signing Day in February 2013, however, he de-committed from Texas and officially signed with Alabama.
Path to American Football
Robinson began practicing with Alabama in August 2013 and played in the first game of Alabama’s 2013 season on August 31, 2013. He was one of only two true freshmen to have both started a game and played in every game of the 2013 season. Robinson led Alabama in sacks and was seventh on the team in tackles. He was named by Alabama’s coaches as one of the defensive “players of the week” in three of Alabama’s 12 games. At Alabama’s annual awards banquet after the 2013 regular season, Robinson was one of four players to receive an “Iron Man Award” given to players who have shown the most dedication to the individual and team goals of the Crimson Tide’s year-round strength and conditioning program. At the end of his first college football season, Robinson was the only Alabama freshman named to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Coaches’ All-Freshman team. He was also on the 2013 Sporting News Freshman All-American team.
A’Shawn Robinson Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
A’Shawn Robinson was selected in the second round with the 46th overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2016 NFL Draft. On May 10, 2016, Robinson signed with the Detroit Lions. He recorded his first career sack against Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz in Week 5. In Week 16 of the 2016 season, against the Dallas Cowboys, Robinson drew an unnecessary roughness penalty for tackling running back Ezekiel Elliott too hard. He finished his rookie season leading all defensive tackles in the NFL in pass deflections with seven. During Week 6 of the 2017 NFL season, Robinson recorded his first career interception off Drew Brees and returned it two yards for a touchdown. However, the Lions still lost to the New Orleans Saints by a score of 52–38. In the 2018 season, Robinson played in 13 games with seven starts, recording 49 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. He was placed on injured reserve on December 28, 2018. In the 2019 season, Robinson played in 13 games with nine starts, recording 40 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.
Breakthrough (2020–2022)
On April 24, 2020, the Los Angeles Rams signed Robinson to a two-year contract. He was placed on the active/non-football injury list at the start of training camp on August 8, 2020. He was activated on October 30, 2020, and appeared in eight games in the 2020 season. In the 2021 season, Robinson recorded two sacks, 67 total tackles, and two forced fumbles in 17 games. Robinson helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI by defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 23–20. In the Super Bowl, Robinson recorded six tackles and one sack and was instrumental in shutting down the Bengals’ running game. On November 26, 2022, Robinson was placed on injured reserve with a torn meniscus. He finished the 2022 season with 42 total tackles in ten games.
New York Giants and Carolina Panthers (2023–Present)
On April 24, 2023, Robinson signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the New York Giants. In the 2023 season, Robinson finished with 62 total tackles and two passes defended in 17 games. On March 13, 2024, Robinson signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.
Notable Works and Milestones
A’Shawn Robinson is known for his significant contributions to the teams he has played for, including winning Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams. He has been recognized for his performance on the field with various accolades, including being a Consensus All-American and a First-team All-SEC player during his college career.
A’Shawn Robinson Award Nominations
Throughout his career, A’Shawn Robinson has received recognition for his performance on the field, including nominations for various collegiate and professional awards.
A’Shawn Robinson Awards Won
A’Shawn Robinson has achieved notable accolades, including being a Super Bowl champion and a Consensus All-American.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl champion | 1 | LVI |
| CFP national champion | 1 | 2015 |
| Consensus All-American | 1 | 2015 |
| First-team All-SEC | 1 | 2015 |
A’Shawn Robinson Family
Details about A’Shawn Robinson’s family are not publicly available.
Personal Life
Due to his physical appearance, Robinson is often questioned about his actual age. Having started playing football at the age of four, his mother stated that she would bring his birth certificate to games due to opposing coaches challenging his age for eligibility. Robinson has shared that he was often mistaken for a 35-year-old coach when he was actually a 20-year-old student athlete.
