A’Shawn Robinson Bio
A’Shawn Robinson is an American professional football defensive end currently playing in the National Football League (NFL). Born on March 21, 1995, in Fort Worth, Texas, he developed into one of the top defensive line prospects in the country during his high school years. Robinson played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he earned national recognition as a Consensus All-American. He was selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions and has since built a steady career as a run-stopping defensive lineman.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed at 320 pounds, Robinson is known for his imposing size, length, and physical presence at the line of scrimmage. He has played for the Detroit Lions, the Los Angeles Rams, the New York Giants, the Carolina Panthers, and most recently the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the Los Angeles Rams, he was part of the team that won Super Bowl LVI.
Early Life and Background
A’Shawn Robinson is a native of Fort Worth, Texas, where he grew up and attended Arlington Heights High School. A multi-sport athlete, he competed on his high school’s varsity football, basketball, and track and field teams, which helped him develop the strength, footwork, and athleticism that would later define his game. On the football field, he was a two-way lineman for the Arlington Heights Yellowjackets, playing on both sides of the ball.
During his senior season, Robinson was coached by Todd Whitten and emerged as one of the most sought-after defensive line recruits in the country. He was a five-star recruit according to Rivals.com, with one national recruiting service ranking him as the top defensive tackle in the nation. ESPN also rated him a four-star recruit and placed him 105th overall on its ESPN 300 list. After the season, he played for the West squad in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and earned a spot on the 2012 USA Today All-American Second Team.
Path to American Football
Coming out of high school, Robinson received scholarship offers from several of the top programs in college football, including Texas, Southern California, Louisiana State, Arkansas, and Florida State. He had originally been verbally committed to Texas in February 2012, but he changed course just before National Signing Day in February 2013. After de-committing from the Longhorns, he officially signed with Alabama, joining one of the most decorated programs in the country under head coach Nick Saban.
At Alabama, Robinson quickly showed he could handle the demands of a top-tier college program. Listed at 320 pounds, he played both defensive end and defensive tackle during his freshman season, demonstrating rare versatility for a player his size. By the end of his junior year, he was a team leader on a defensive line that powered the Crimson Tide to a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2015. He was also a finalist for the Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation’s best interior lineman, and he was named a Consensus All-American and First-Team All-SEC.
A’Shawn Robinson Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
Robinson’s first taste of high-level college football came during the 2013 season at Alabama, when he played in all 13 games and started two of them. He was one of only two true freshmen on the team to start a game and play in every contest, and he was the only true freshman under Nick Saban to lead Alabama in sacks. He was recognized on the Southeastern Conference Coaches’ All-Freshman Team and on the 2013 Sporting News Freshman All-American Team.
As a sophomore in 2014, Robinson started every game and helped Alabama lead the nation in rushing defense. He led the team in tackles in the SEC Championship Game against Missouri, the first time he had done so in his career. During this stretch, his teammates gave him the nickname “Infamous A-Tron,” a playful blend of his first name and the nickname of receiver Calvin Johnson. In his junior season of 2015, Robinson started every game once again, anchored Alabama’s deep defensive line, and helped the program lead the nation in rushing yards allowed, yards per carry allowed, and sacks. After the season, he decided to forgo his senior year and declared for the 2016 NFL Draft.
NFL Draft and Detroit Lions (2016–2019)
A’Shawn Robinson was selected in the second round with the 46th overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, who viewed him as a long-term answer on the interior of their defensive line. He signed his rookie contract on May 10, 2016, and made an immediate impact, recording his first career sack against Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz in Week 5 of his rookie season. He finished that year leading all defensive tackles in the NFL in pass deflections, a sign of his unusual athleticism for a 320-pound lineman.
During the 2017 season, Robinson continued to grow into a three-down contributor. In Week 6, he recorded his first career interception off quarterback Drew Brees and returned it two yards for a touchdown, and in Week 9, he blocked a Mason Crosby field goal attempt to help the Lions beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The 2018 and 2019 seasons were more difficult, as he played through injuries and was placed on injured reserve late in 2018. He finished his Lions career having established himself as a reliable defensive tackle in Detroit’s rotation.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2020–2022)
On April 24, 2020, Robinson signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams, beginning a new chapter in his career on a roster built to compete for championships. He opened the year on the non-football injury list and was activated in late October, going on to appear in eight regular-season games. The 2021 season, however, was the defining year of his time with the Rams. Robinson started all 17 games and posted two sacks, 67 total tackles, and two forced fumbles, playing a key role on a defense that powered Los Angeles deep into the postseason.
That run culminated in Super Bowl LVI, where Robinson helped the Los Angeles Rams defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 23–20. In the game, he recorded six tackles and one sack and was instrumental in shutting down the Bengals’ running game. In 2022, Robinson started ten games and finished the season with 42 total tackles before a torn meniscus landed him on injured reserve in late November.
New York Giants (2023)
On April 24, 2023, Robinson signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the New York Giants, joining a defense looking to add veteran experience along the defensive line. He appeared in all 17 games during the 2023 season, finishing with 62 total tackles and two passes defended while serving as a consistent presence in the run game. His one-year stay in New York gave him a chance to reset his market heading into free agency the following spring.
Carolina Panthers Era (2024–2025)
On March 13, 2024, Robinson signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, becoming a centerpiece of their defensive front. The 2024 season was the most productive of his career, as he started 16 games and set career highs with 80 tackles and 5.5 sacks, establishing himself as a disruptive force against both the run and the pass. He followed that up in 2025 with 65 tackles and 2.5 sacks, continuing to anchor the Panthers’ defensive line.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2026–Present)
After being released by the Carolina Panthers on March 10, 2026, Robinson quickly found a new home. On March 11, 2026, he signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, joining another NFC South defense in need of experienced help on the interior line. He is expected to add size, run defense, and pass-rush depth to the Buccaneers’ defensive rotation.
Driving Style and Strengths
Robinson is built in the mold of a traditional, gap-control defensive lineman, with the size to hold his ground against double teams and the quickness to disrupt plays at the line of scrimmage. He is at his best as a run defender, where his length, leverage, and power allow him to clog rushing lanes. While not primarily a pass-rushing specialist, he has shown the ability to push the pocket and contribute occasional sacks, and his awareness in coverage has produced several pass deflections over the years.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining milestones of Robinson’s career came in February 2022, when he helped the Los Angeles Rams defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 23–20 in Super Bowl LVI, recording six tackles and a sack in the championship game. Earlier in his career, he was part of Alabama’s College Football Playoff National Championship team in 2015 and was named a Consensus All-American that same season. He has also posted rare feats for a defensive tackle, including a pick-six off Drew Brees in 2017 and a blocked field goal against the Green Bay Packers.
A’Shawn Robinson Career Wins
Across his professional and college career, A’Shawn Robinson has been a part of championship-winning teams and has earned individual recognition as one of the top defensive linemen in the country. He won the College Football Playoff National Championship with Alabama in 2015, was named a Consensus All-American and First-Team All-SEC that same year, and added a Super Bowl LVI title with the Los Angeles Rams after the 2021 season.
Career Achievements
Robinson’s most celebrated team achievement is his Super Bowl LVI victory with the Los Angeles Rams, where his six tackles and a sack in the game helped seal the championship. In college, his 2015 junior season stands out as a career breakthrough, when he anchored an Alabama defense that led the nation in several major defensive categories and captured the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Other Achievements
Earlier in his career, Robinson was a five-star recruit, a U.S. Army All-American, and a USA Today All-American Second Team selection in 2012. He was also a finalist for the Outland Trophy in 2015, recognizing the nation’s best interior lineman, and he earned Honorable Mention All-SEC honors after the 2014 season, reflecting his consistent development across his college years.
A’Shawn Robinson Family
Family Background and Personal Story
Robinson is the son of a Fort Worth-area family, and he began playing football at the age of four. Because of his mature build, he was repeatedly questioned about his age, and his mother often had to bring his birth certificate to youth games. Robinson has shared that he was sometimes mistaken for a 35-year-old coach when he was actually a 20-year-old college student, a problem that followed him from youth football into his college and professional career.
Personal Life
Off the field, Robinson is known for keeping his personal life private, with most public information about him focused on his football career and his background. He has been a popular teammate throughout his stops in Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, and Carolina, building a reputation as a steady veteran presence in the locker room.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025, A’Shawn Robinson continued his role as a starting defensive lineman for the Carolina Panthers, building on the career year he had posted in 2024. He played in all 16 games and started most of them, finishing the season with 65 tackles and 2.5 sacks while serving as a key piece of the team’s run defense. His production confirmed that the strides he made in 2024 were no fluke, and he remained a stabilizing force on the interior of the defensive line.
Throughout the season, Robinson provided veteran leadership to a Panthers defense that was still developing young talent around him. He was rarely sidelined by injury and was a consistent presence on early downs, where his ability to occupy blockers allowed the Panthers’ linebackers to flow more freely to the ball. Although Carolina’s defense faced growing pains, Robinson was widely viewed as one of the team’s most reliable defenders.
Looking ahead, Robinson was released by the Panthers on March 10, 2026, and quickly signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the following day. His outlook for the 2026 season in Tampa Bay is strong, as he brings championship experience, positional versatility, and proven production as a run-stopping defensive lineman into a defense looking to compete in the NFC South.