After leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage during the 2025 season, Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has been named one of five finalists for the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year award. The announcement was made Thursday, with Robinson joining New England quarterback Drake Maye, San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey, Los Angeles receiver Puka Nacua, and Seattle receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba as contenders for the honor. The winner will be revealed on February 5 at the annual NFL Honors event ahead of the Super Bowl in San Francisco.
Robinson finished the season with 2,298 yards from scrimmage—the twelfth-highest single-season total in league history. He recorded a career-best 1,478 rushing yards (fourth in the league) and added 820 receiving yards (second among running backs). Robinson became only the second player at his position to post at least 1,400 rushing yards and 800 receiving yards in one season.
A standout moment came in Week 17 when Robinson rushed for 229 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams. His performance included a 93-yard touchdown run that set a new franchise record for longest rushing play by a Falcons player, surpassing Warrick Dunn’s previous mark from 2006. This run was also the longest touchdown run in the NFL during the 2025 season.
Another notable game occurred in Week 6 against Buffalo on Monday Night Football. Robinson accumulated a total of 238 yards—including an 81-yard touchdown run—marking what was then a record-setting prime-time performance for an Atlanta Falcons player until his later showing against Los Angeles.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley commented on Robinson’s skills before this past season: “There’s nobody who’s able to cut like Bijan in the NFL. There’s not,” Barkley said prior to the 2025 season for NFL Top 100. “You can go argue your mom about that. … Trust me. I love myself and I think I have great cuts. There’s nobody, his vision, his agility, and he can catch the ball too. It’s finna get scary for a lot of people as he continues to figure it out.”
Barkley won this same award last year after finishing with over 2,000 rushing yards—one of only nine players ever to do so—and leading all running backs in several categories including carries and average per game. In comparison, Robinson surpassed Barkley’s total yardage from last year by recording more games with over 150 scrimmage yards than any other player this season.
Among fellow finalists like McCaffrey—who led all backs in receptions—Robinson distinguished himself by accumulating nearly two hundred more rushing yards while playing a key role for his team despite Atlanta not reaching postseason play.
The Atlanta Falcons are based in Atlanta, Georgia and compete as part of the National Football League’s NFC South Division official website. Founded as an expansion team in 1965 official website, they have appeared twice in Super Bowls—in both 1998 and again in 2016 official website. Freddie the Falcon serves as their mascot official website.
The results of this year’s AP Offensive Player of the Year vote may hinge on how voters weigh overall production versus usage rates among nominees like Robinson and McCaffrey.
