Dorian Thompson-Robinson Bio
Dorian Trevor Thompson-Robinson (born November 14, 1999) is an American professional football quarterback who also goes by the initials DTR. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, earning second-team all-conference honors in the Pac-12 in both 2020 and 2021 before being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft. After stints with the Browns and a brief trade to the Philadelphia Eagles, Thompson-Robinson has continued his career in professional football.
Early Life and Background
Dorian Trevor Thompson-Robinson was born on November 14, 1999, in Columbia, South Carolina, while his mother was completing her doctorate at the University of South Carolina. He later moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he attended Bishop Gorman High School and developed into one of the most highly recruited quarterback prospects in the country. He was rated as a four-star recruit by major scouting services.
As a senior at Bishop Gorman, Thompson-Robinson passed for 3,275 yards and 38 touchdowns while also rushing for 426 yards and 7 touchdowns, showcasing the dual-threat ability that would later define his game. His strong senior season earned him invitations from several top programs, and he ultimately committed to play college football at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His early life combined academic family influences with a steady introduction to competitive football in Nevada.
Path to American Football
Thompson-Robinson’s path to professional football began at Bishop Gorman, where his production as a senior put him on the radar of Pac-12 recruiters. His decision to attend UCLA gave him a clear path to play early in a Power Five conference and to develop under a coaching staff that valued mobile quarterbacks. The transition from high school star to college starter happened quickly.
He enrolled at UCLA and saw action in ten games during his freshman season in 2018, taking the first offensive snap in seven of those contests. The early exposure gave him valuable experience before he was handed the starting role the following year. That steady ladder of opportunity, combined with his athletic background, prepared him for the rigors of the Pac-12 and, eventually, the NFL.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson Career
Early Career (2018-2019)
Thompson-Robinson’s early college career featured steady growth under center for the Bruins. In his 2018 freshman season, he appeared in ten games and delivered a strong performance in a 31-24 loss to No. 10 Washington, completing 27 of 38 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns. A week later, he completed 13 of 15 passes in a 37-7 victory over California, posting an 86.6 percent completion rate that ranked third-highest by a UCLA quarterback since 1980 in a game with at least 15 attempts.
In 2019, Thompson-Robinson became UCLA’s starting quarterback as a sophomore. He started 11 of 12 games, missing the Oregon State contest with an injury, and produced one of the most memorable single performances in program history. On September 21, he led the Bruins 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 more scores. His 564 total yards set a UCLA record for total offense in a single game, and his 2,899 yards of total offense for the season ranked tenth in school history.
UCLA Breakthrough (2020-2022)
Thompson-Robinson’s breakthrough as a college star came during the 2020 season, which was shortened and delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the opener at Colorado, he completed 20 of 40 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns and also rushed for 109 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown run, becoming the first Bruin ever to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game. He finished the year completing 65.2 percent of his throws for 12 touchdowns and four interceptions while adding 306 rushing yards and three scores, and he was named second-team All-Pac-12.
He returned to UCLA for the 2021 season and once again earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors from the conference coaches. That year he passed for 2,409 yards and 21 touchdowns, the second-highest passing touchdown total in the Pac-12, and he was also named first-team All-Pac-12 by the Associated Press. After announcing on January 10, 2022, that he would return for a fifth season using the extra year of eligibility granted to 2020 fall athletes, Thompson-Robinson opened the 2022 campaign against Bowling Green with 32 completions on 43 attempts for 298 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 87 yards and two more scores, including a 68-yard run.
Cleveland Browns Era (2023-2024)
Thompson-Robinson was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 140th pick in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft, a selection acquired from the Los Angeles Rams. A strong preseason, including his debut in the 2023 Hall of Fame Game, earned him the backup quarterback role behind Deshaun Watson, with Kellen Mond and Joshua Dobbs also competing for the spot. His first career start came on October 1, 2023, against the Baltimore Ravens after Watson was ruled out with a shoulder injury.
His first NFL win came in Week 11 of the 2023 season, a 13-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in which he completed 4 of 5 passes on the final drive to set up the game-winning field goal. The following week against the Denver Broncos, he threw his first career touchdown pass, a two-yard strike to tight end Harrison Bryant, before exiting with a head injury. After clearing concussion protocol, he was returned to a backup role when the Browns named Joe Flacco the starter. In 2024, Thompson-Robinson entered the regular season as Watson’s backup and first appeared on October 20 after Watson suffered an Achilles injury, completing 11 of 24 passes for 82 yards before exiting with a finger injury of his own. He later started against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins late in the season, accumulating 157 passing yards and 49 rushing yards against Cincinnati and 170 passing yards against Miami in a 20-3 loss.
Driving Style and Strengths
Thompson-Robinson is a dual-threat quarterback whose strengths lie in extending plays with his legs and creating offense outside the pocket. He combines a strong arm with the ability to push the ball downfield, and his college tape showed comfort in tempo and read-option concepts. At the professional level, his willingness to attack intermediate windows and his toughness as a runner have been his defining traits.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his milestone moments, Thompson-Robinson’s 564-yard total offense performance at Washington State in 2019 stands as the UCLA single-game record. His first NFL start against Baltimore in 2023 and his first NFL touchdown pass against Denver later that season are key markers of his professional arrival. Being named the 35th starting quarterback for the Browns since their 1999 return is another notable footnote in his career arc.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson Career Wins
Thompson-Robinson’s verified professional win came on November 19, 2023, when he led the Cleveland Browns to a 13-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11. He completed 24 of 43 passes for 165 yards and one interception but delivered a clutch late drive to set up the winning field goal.
UCLA and Other Performances
Across his UCLA career, Thompson-Robinson piled up signature victories, including the 67-63 comeback at No. 19 Washington State in 2019 and a 37-7 rout of California the previous season. He finished his Bruins tenure with two second-team All-Pac-12 selections (2020, 2021) and a first-team All-Pac-12 nod from the Associated Press in 2021. He did not win a conference championship or major individual award at the college level based on verified sources.
Other Performances
In addition to his NFL work, Thompson-Robinson was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles on March 12, 2025, in a deal that sent a 2025 fifth-round pick to Cleveland and brought Kenny Pickett back to the Browns. He was later waived by the Eagles on August 24, 2025.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Thompson-Robinson is the son of Michael Robinson and Dr. Melva Thompson-Robinson, a public health professor at UNLV. He has one brother and one sister. His mother’s academic career in public health helped shape a household that valued education alongside athletics.
Personal Life
Known publicly as DTR, Thompson-Robinson has kept most of his personal life out of the spotlight. He is not publicly known to be married, and there are no verified public details about a spouse or children. His family ties to South Carolina, where he was born, and Las Vegas, where he grew up, remain central parts of his personal story.
2025 Season Performance
Thompson-Robinson began 2025 in Cleveland’s quarterback room before being dealt to the Philadelphia Eagles on March 12, 2025, in exchange for Kenny Pickett and a 2025 fifth-round draft pick. The trade gave him a fresh opportunity in a new offensive environment alongside established starters. After joining Philadelphia, he competed for a roster spot through the offseason and preseason.
On August 24, 2025, Thompson-Robinson was waived by the Eagles, ending his stint in Philadelphia. As of the 2025 season, he is once again a free agent available to sign with a new team. His prior NFL experience, including regular-season action in both 2023 and 2024, leaves him with valuable game tape for prospective clubs. His next chapter will depend on opportunity, health, and fit within an offensive scheme that highlights his dual-threat skill set.