Allen Robinson Bio
Allen Bernard Robinson II (born August 24, 1993) is an American professional football wide receiver who has spent more than a decade in the National Football League. He first rose to national attention as a standout at Penn State, where his combination of size, route precision, and reliable hands made him one of the most productive receivers in Big Ten Conference history. After being selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, he went on to play for the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Giants before joining the Detroit Lions. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2015 and tied for the NFL lead in receiving touchdowns that same season.
Early Life and Background
Allen Bernard Robinson II was born on August 24, 1993, in Detroit, Michigan. He was raised by his mother, Tracie Robinson, and his father, Allen Robinson Sr., and he grew up alongside a sister, Ashley. Robinson attended St. Mary’s Preparatory in Orchard Lake, Michigan, where he played football and also competed on the school’s track and field team. As a senior, he helped lead the football program to a Division 3 State Championship game, although the Eaglets fell 35–27 to East Grand Rapids High School. He was a teammate of Rob Bolden during his high school years.
Robinson committed to Penn State on November 29, 2010, after being recruited by Nittany Lions assistant coach Ron Vanderlinden. He had also drawn interest from Minnesota, Buffalo, and Toledo, but he chose Penn State to develop under a program with a long history of producing NFL receivers. Once on campus, he majored in telecommunications and expressed an early interest in sportscasting and coaching as possible post-playing careers.
Path to American Football
Robinson’s path to the NFL began with an immediate role in the Penn State passing game. He appeared in 12 games as a freshman in 2011 under head coach Joe Paterno, finishing with three receptions for 29 yards. His first career start came on the road against Wisconsin in a game that helped shape the Big Ten Leaders Division race. The arrival of new head coach Bill O’Brien ahead of the 2012 season pushed Robinson into the spotlight as the team’s clear number one receiver.
In his sophomore season, Robinson caught 77 passes for 1,018 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns, leading the Big Ten Conference in all three categories and setting a school record for receptions by a sophomore. He won the Richter–Howard Receiver of the Year award for the first of two consecutive seasons. As a junior in 2013, he added 97 receptions for 1,432 receiving yards and six touchdowns, again pacing the Big Ten in catches and yardage while earning first-team All-American honors. He finished his college career ranked among the top five in school history in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches before declaring for the 2014 NFL Draft.
Allen Robinson Career
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2014–2017)
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Robinson in the second round with the 61st overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year rookie contract and opened his first season as the fourth receiver behind Marqise Lee, Cecil Shorts, and fellow rookie Allen Hurns. He finished his rookie year with 48 receptions for 548 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games, though a stress fracture in his right foot cut into his production late in the season. The injury limited him early, but he returned healthy the following year.
In 2015, Robinson paired with Hurns to form one of the league’s most productive young duos, earning the nicknames “Thunder and Lightning” and “The Allen Brothers.” He caught 80 passes for 1,400 receiving yards and a league-leading 14 touchdown receptions, becoming the first player in franchise history to lead the NFL in receiving scores. His 90-yard touchdown reception against the New Orleans Saints that December was the longest scoring play in the NFL that season and the longest from scrimmage in Jaguars history. The performance earned him a Pro Bowl selection as a replacement for Calvin Johnson and a spot on the NFL Top 100 Players list.
Robinson added 73 receptions for 883 yards and six touchdowns in 2016 before suffering a torn ACL in his left knee during the season opener in 2017, an injury that ended his year and ultimately closed his Jacksonville chapter.
Chicago Bears Era (2018–2021)
Robinson signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Chicago Bears on March 14, 2018, and immediately became the centerpiece of the passing game alongside Mitchell Trubisky. He finished his first Bears season with 55 receptions for 754 yards and four touchdowns, then set Bears postseason records with 10 receptions and 143 receiving yards in the Wild Card Round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. His best Chicago season came in 2019, when he caught 98 passes for 1,147 yards and seven touchdowns, becoming the first Bears receiver to reach 1,000 yards since Alshon Jeffery in 2014.
He followed that with a 2020 campaign of 102 receptions for 1,250 yards and six touchdowns, joining Matt Forte for the second-most catches in a single season in franchise history. Production dipped sharply in 2021, when he finished with 38 receptions for 410 yards and one touchdown in 12 games after signing his franchise tag tender. Chicago released him following the 2021 season, opening the door for his next NFL stop.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2022)
Robinson signed a three-year, $46.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams on March 17, 2022, to serve as a veteran target for quarterback Matthew Stafford. He started the first 10 games of the season and recorded 33 receptions for 339 yards and three touchdowns. In late November, however, the Rams announced that Robinson would undergo season-ending surgery to repair a foot injury, and he was placed on injured reserve on November 29, 2022.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2023)
On April 21, 2023, Robinson was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a swap of 2023 seventh-round draft picks. He stepped into a starting role and started all 17 regular season games, finishing the year with 34 receptions for 280 receiving yards. Pittsburgh released him on March 8, 2024, ending his Steelers tenure.
New York Giants Era (2024)
Robinson signed with the New York Giants on May 9, 2024, but was released on August 27, 2024, before the start of the regular season.
Detroit Lions Era (2024–Present)
On August 28, 2024, Robinson was signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad and was promoted to the active roster on September 26. In his return to his hometown team, he appeared in 12 games during the 2024 season and finished with three receptions for 30 receiving yards, contributing in a depth role for a Lions offense that reached the playoffs.
Driving Style and Strengths
Robinson built his reputation on physicality at the catch point, sharp route running, and the ability to win in contested situations. At 6’3″ and around 215 pounds, he presents a big target who thrives on intermediate routes such as slants, comebacks, and post patterns. He also showed a consistent ability to produce against zone coverage by finding soft spots between the levels, and he has historically been trusted to move the chains on third down.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of his career, his 90-yard touchdown reception against the New Orleans Saints in 2015 stands as the longest scoring play from scrimmage in Jacksonville Jaguars history. He also tied for the NFL lead in receiving touchdowns in 2015 with 14, set Bears postseason records in 2018, and became the first Bears receiver since 2014 to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020. His two-time selection as the Richter–Howard Receiver of the Year at Penn State cemented his place among the conference’s all-time greats.
Allen Robinson Career Wins
Robinson has posted impressive receiving totals across both the Big Ten and the NFL, including a 1,400-yard, 14-touchdown season in 2015 that stands among the best by a Jacksonville Jaguar. He has recorded three 1,000-yard NFL seasons and has twice led the Big Ten Conference in receptions and receiving yards, but he has not won a conference championship or a Super Bowl at the professional level.
NFL Highlights
Robinson’s most productive NFL season came in 2015, when he caught 80 passes for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns and earned a Pro Bowl nod. His most recent 1,000-yard season came in 2020 with the Bears, when he caught 102 passes for 1,250 yards and six scores. Across his career he has surpassed 100 receptions in a season once and tied for the NFL lead in receiving touchdowns once, in 2015.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Robinson was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, a two-time Big Ten Receiver of the Year, and a first-team All-American in 2013. He finished his Penn State career ranked second in school history in receptions, third in receiving yards, and fifth in touchdown catches.
Allen Robinson Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Robinson was raised by his mother, Tracie Robinson, and his father, Allen Robinson Sr. He has a sister, Ashley. While his immediate family is not known for professional sports careers, Robinson has credited his parents for shaping his work ethic and his disciplined approach to the game.
Personal Life
Off the field, Robinson founded the Within Reach Foundation while he was playing in Jacksonville, a charitable effort that supports education programs for children. He majored in telecommunications at Penn State and has publicly expressed interest in sportscasting and coaching after his playing days are over. Robinson also appeared in a Season 6 episode of the television series Ink Master.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Robinson remains on the Detroit Lions roster, continuing his return to his hometown team where he began his football journey. After playing a depth role in 2024 with three receptions over 12 games, he is expected to provide veteran leadership and situational help in a wide receiver room led by younger playmakers. His experience as a former Pro Bowler and his familiarity with the Lions’ system from the previous season give him a clear pathway to expanded responsibilities.
Key storylines to watch include how the Lions deploy him on third downs and in the red zone, two areas where Robinson has built his reputation throughout his career. With his size, route-running polish, and track record of producing against zone coverage, he has the profile of a dependable complementary target for Detroit’s starting quarterback. If he can stay healthy and carve out a defined niche, he could push for one more 500-yard or 5-touchdown season in the late stage of his career.
The broader outlook for Robinson in 2025 is shaped by opportunity and health. Coming off a foot injury that ended his 2022 season with the Rams and a quieter 2023 in Pittsburgh, he showed enough in 2024 to earn a roster spot in Detroit. A strong training camp and preseason could solidify his role and set up a productive final chapter for a wide receiver who has long been respected for his preparation and consistency.