Dorian Thompson-Robinson Bio
Dorian Trevor Thompson-Robinson, also known by his initials DTR, is an American professional football quarterback. Born on November 14, 1999, in Columbia, South Carolina, he currently plays for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). He rose to national recognition as a multi-year starter for the UCLA Bruins before being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft. Listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 206 pounds, Thompson-Robinson has built his reputation on dual-threat production and competitive toughness.
After brief stints with the Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles, he transitioned to the spring football ranks. He was selected by the Orlando Storm in the 2026 UFL quarterback draft before being traded to the Birmingham Stallions later that same season. He attends the Birmingham Stallions as a starting quarterback in the UFL, where he continues to develop as a professional passer.
Early Life and Background
Dorian Trevor Thompson-Robinson was born on November 14, 1999, in Columbia, South Carolina, while his mother, Dr. Melva Thompson-Robinson, was completing her doctorate at the University of South Carolina. He grew up alongside one brother and one sister, and later moved with his family to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he attended Bishop Gorman High School. His father, Michael Robinson, has been a steady presence in his upbringing.
At Bishop Gorman, Thompson-Robinson starred as a four-star recruit and one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the country. As a senior, he passed for 3,275 yards and 38 touchdowns, while also adding 426 rushing yards and 7 rushing scores. His ability to impact the game through both his arm and his legs made him one of the most sought-after dual-threat prospects of his recruiting class.
Thompson-Robinson committed to play college football at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), choosing the Bruins over several other prominent programs. His mother, Dr. Melva Thompson-Robinson, later became a public health professor at UNLV, reflecting the family’s strong academic background that helped shape Dorian’s disciplined approach to the sport.
Path to American Football
Thompson-Robinson enrolled at UCLA in 2018 and immediately contributed as a true freshman. He appeared in ten games that season and took the first offensive snap in seven of them. He completed 27 of 38 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns in a 31–24 loss to No. 10 Washington, and the following week he went 13 of 15 in a 37–7 victory over California for an 86.6% completion percentage, the third-highest mark by a UCLA quarterback in a game with at least 15 passes since 1980.
As a sophomore in 2019, Thompson-Robinson became the Bruins’ full-time starter. He led UCLA to a 67–63 comeback victory at No. 19 Washington State, throwing for 507 yards and five touchdowns while adding 57 rushing yards and two scores. His 564 total yards in that game set a UCLA record for single-game total offense, and his 431 yards of total offense against rival USC ranked as the second-best performance in the history of the UCLA–USC rivalry. He finished the year with 2,701 passing yards, 198 rushing yards, and 25 total touchdowns.
His continued growth at UCLA earned him second-team All-Pac-12 honors in both 2020 and 2021, along with first-team All-Pac-12 recognition from the Associated Press in 2021. By the time he declared for the 2023 NFL draft, he had cemented himself as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in UCLA history.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
Thompson-Robinson’s college career began in 2018 as a freshman who split duties and impressed with poise beyond his years. By his sophomore season in 2019, he had become the centerpiece of the Bruins’ offense, producing record-setting performances against ranked opponents and posting one of the top ten total-yardage seasons in program history.
His junior and senior campaigns in 2020 and 2021 elevated his draft profile. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he became the first Bruin to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game, doing so in a loss at Colorado. He added second-team All-Pac-12 honors in both seasons, capped by a 2021 campaign in which he threw for 2,409 yards and 21 passing touchdowns, the second-best passing touchdown total in the Pac-12 that year. After returning for a fifth season in 2022, he opened with 298 passing yards and two passing scores plus 87 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns against Bowling Green.
Cleveland Browns Era (2023–2024)
Thompson-Robinson was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round with the 140th overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft. After a strong preseason, he won the backup quarterback job behind Deshaun Watson, beating out Kellen Mond and Joshua Dobbs. On October 1, 2023, he made his first NFL start against the Baltimore Ravens, becoming the 35th different starting quarterback for the Browns since the franchise’s 1999 return.
His first career touchdown pass came in 2023 against the Denver Broncos, a two-yard strike to tight end Harrison Bryant. Later in that same game, he suffered a head injury on a late hit by Baron Browning. He bounced back to set up a game-winning field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11, completing four of five passes on the final drive. He finished his 2023 season on injured reserve after a hip injury in Week 16. In 2024, he served mostly as a third-string option before being pressed into action following injuries to Deshaun Watson and Jameis Winston, starting games against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins.
Philadelphia Eagles and UFL Transition (2025–2026)
On March 12, 2025, Thompson-Robinson was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles along with a 2025 fifth-round draft pick in exchange for Kenny Pickett. He was waived on August 24, 2025, ending his brief tenure in Philadelphia. Looking for a fresh start, he entered the spring football ranks and was selected by the Orlando Storm in the 2026 United Football League quarterback draft on January 12, 2026.
With the Storm, Thompson-Robinson served primarily as a backup to Jack Plummer. He made his Orlando debut in Week 2 against the Louisville Kings, completing 2 of 3 passes for 19 yards and rushing once for six yards in a 19–9 victory. On April 19, 2026, he was traded to the Birmingham Stallions for quarterback Matt Corral and defensive end Amani Bledsoe, opening a new chapter in his professional career.
Birmingham Stallions Era (2026–Present)
Thompson-Robinson was quickly named the Birmingham Stallions’ starting quarterback by head coach A. J. McCarron ahead of the team’s Week 5 matchup against the DC Defenders. In his debut, he led the Stallions to a season-high 28 points in a 45–28 loss, completing 28 of 43 passes for 313 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions while also rushing for 43 yards and a touchdown.
The following week, Thompson-Robinson earned his first victory as Birmingham’s starter against his former team, the Orlando Storm, completing 19 of 27 passes for 271 yards and a touchdown in a 20–17 win. His early production in Birmingham has re-energized his professional trajectory and given him a stable opportunity to refine his craft as a starter.
Driving Style and Strengths
Thompson-Robinson is widely regarded as a dual-threat quarterback who excels at generating offense with both his arm and his legs. His track-type strengths include extending plays with his mobility and attacking downfield with vertical passing concepts. He has shown a knack for performing in high-pressure moments, including comeback victories at Washington State and game-winning drives against the Pittsburgh Steelers. His competitive toughness has been a defining trait throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Thompson-Robinson’s 564-yard performance at Washington State in 2019 stands as the UCLA single-game total offense record, and his 431-yard outing against USC ranks second in the history of the UCLA–USC rivalry. He was the first Bruin to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game, accomplished at Colorado in 2020. In the NFL, he threw his first career touchdown against the Denver Broncos in 2023, and in the UFL he earned his first Birmingham Stallions victory against the Orlando Storm in 2026.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson Career Highlights
Thompson-Robinson’s professional résumé includes stints with the Cleveland Browns, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Orlando Storm, and the Birmingham Stallions. Across his NFL career, he has recorded 121 completions on 230 attempts for 880 passing yards, with 1 touchdown and 10 interceptions. His professional journey has carried him from a fifth-round draft pick to a starting role in the UFL, where he has continued to flash his dual-threat ability.
UFL Highlights
In the United Football League, Thompson-Robinson has steadily built a highlight reel with the Orlando Storm and the Birmingham Stallions. His first UFL victory came as Birmingham’s starter against the Orlando Storm, a 20–17 win in which he threw for 271 yards and a touchdown. His Birmingham debut produced 313 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, and 43 rushing yards, signaling a strong adjustment to his new team.
College Highlights
At UCLA, Thompson-Robinson earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2020 and 2021, along with first-team All-Pac-12 recognition from the Associated Press in 2021. He set the UCLA single-game total offense record with 564 yards at Washington State in 2019 and became the first Bruin to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game, doing so at Colorado in 2020. His career totals at UCLA place him among the program’s all-time leaders in total offense and touchdowns.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Thompson-Robinson was raised in a close-knit household with strong academic and athletic influences. His mother, Dr. Melva Thompson-Robinson, completed her doctorate at the University of South Carolina and later became a public health professor at UNLV. His father, Michael Robinson, has supported his football journey from his earliest years.
Personal Life
Thompson-Robinson grew up alongside one brother and one sister, and the family eventually settled in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he attended Bishop Gorman High School. His initials, DTR, have become a familiar shorthand for fans and teammates alike, reflecting a personal brand that has carried him from high school stardom to professional football. He continues to focus on his development as a starting quarterback with the Birmingham Stallions.
2025 Season Performance
Thompson-Robinson entered the 2025 offseason with the Cleveland Browns, where he had been developing as a young backup quarterback. His 2024 season had been disrupted by injuries to other quarterbacks that forced him into action, but he was preparing for a potential expanded role in Cleveland. However, the Browns elected to pivot, and on March 12, 2025, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles along with a 2025 fifth-round draft pick in exchange for Kenny Pickett.
His tenure in Philadelphia proved short, as he was waived on August 24, 2025, just before the regular season opener. Although he did not appear in a regular-season game for the Eagles, the trade and subsequent release marked a significant turning point in his professional career. It also opened the door for his move to the United Football League, where he hoped to find more consistent playing time and a clearer path to a starting role.
Looking ahead from 2025, Thompson-Robinson’s outlook centered on rebuilding his confidence, refining his mechanics, and positioning himself for a long-term professional opportunity. His performance in spring football with the Orlando Storm and the Birmingham Stallions has offered him that platform, and his early production in Birmingham suggests he is finding his rhythm. With continued development and consistent health, he remains an intriguing dual-threat option for any team in need of a mobile, competitive quarterback.
