Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson used a homophobic phrase following his side’s 29-28 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 12 and has since issued an apology.
Robinson, 23, made the homophobic slur on the ‘Thursday Night Football Nightcap’ show after his team’s narrow victory at the Raymond James Stadium.
The 23-year-old was discussing his performance with analyst Richard Sherman, with the journalist homing in on Robinson’s movement around tackles before claiming it reminded him of “backyard football”.
Robison finished with 175 total yards, including eight catches for 82 yards, meaning he ranks third in the NFL this season, registering 1,174 rushing yards.
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“You had a play where they threw it to you, Bijan,” Sherman said.
“They threw it to you in the backfield, you made the first one miss, then legged three people. And I said, ‘This boy grew up in the backyard.'”
The broadcaster referred to the game as “kill the carrier” after Robinson had earlier dubbed it “smear the q****” using a derogatory term.
The clip quickly went viral on social media, causing outrage amongst fans. Robinson has since addressed the incident, issuing an apology on X.
“Hey everyone, I want to apologise for the insensitive comment I made in the broadcast,” he wrote.
“It was a football game we used to play as kid, but that’s not an excuse. I recognise the mistake and make sure to do better in the future. It was not reflective of my beliefs, and I am so sorry to those I offended seriously!”
The Falcons came from 14 points behind during the fourth quarter of the clash, with Zane Gonzales securing the win with a field goal as time expired.
Robinson, who was born in Tucson, Arizona, is in his third year with the Falcons, having been picked in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. On May 12, he signed a four-year rookie contract worth a reported $21.96 million.
Football is a theme in Robinson’s family, with his great uncle Paul representing the Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Oilers and Birmingham Americans between 1968 and 1974.
Topics: NFL
Luke Davies