Bijan Robinson Just Turned a Highlight Reel Night Into a PR Nightmare on Live TV
Imagine this: You just pulled off a massive comeback victory on Thursday Night Football. You put the team on your back, racking up yards and scoring touchdowns. You are the hero of Atlanta. You walk onto the post-game set, adrenaline pumping, ready to take your victory lap. And then, in a matter of seconds, you say something so outdated and cringe-worthy that you instantly overshadow your own performance.
Robinson Was Absolutely Electric on the Field
It’s rare to see a player fumble the bag after the clock hits zero, but the Falcons running back managed to do just that. If you missed it because you went to bed early (and honestly, with how the Bucs were playing early on, who could blame you?), here is how a night of triumph turned into a masterclass in “Why Media Training Exists.”
Before we get to the face-palm moment of the evening, we have to give credit where it’s due. Robinson was a monster on the field. The Atlanta Falcons were down 28-14 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with only 13 minutes left on the clock. It looked like a wrap. But Robinson wasn’t having it.
He kick-started the rally with a six-yard touchdown run that breathed life back into the sideline. He finished the night with a stat line that fantasy owners dream about: 93 rushing yards and 82 receiving yards. He was essentially the entire offense, helping set up the game-winning field goal to seal a 29-28 win. It was the kind of performance that puts you in the conversation for the best back in the league. He should have been trending for his footwork. Instead, he’s trending for his vocabulary.
The Post-Game Chat That Went Off the Rails
Here is where things get messy. Robinson stopped by the Prime Video Thursday Night Football Nightcap studio to chat with the crew. It was all smiles and high-fives initially. Analyst Richard Sherman, trying to give the young star his flowers, complimented Robinson’s elusive running style.
Sherman noted a specific play where Robinson made defenders look silly, saying, “I said, this boy grew up in the backyard.”
It was a softball pitch. A classic “yes, I love playing loose” moment. Instead, Robinson decided to drop a name for a childhood game that most of us haven’t heard since recess in 1998.
“Smear the queer, that’s what we do,” Robinson replied, grinning. You could almost hear the collective gasp of the production truck. The air visibly left the room. It’s one of those moments where you watch through your fingers. While the game he is referring to—basically a variation of keep-away or tag where the person with the ball gets tackled—is real, the name is a derogatory slur that has been widely condemned for decades.
One of the crew members quickly tried to save him, shouting out “Kill the carrier!” as a correction, but the damage was already done. The clip hit social media faster than a Robinson 40-yard dash, and just like that, the conversation shifted from his elite agility to his unfortunate word choice.
Robinson Issues a Swift Apology on Social Media
To his credit, Robinson didn’t try to hide from it. He likely checked his phone in the locker room, saw that he was getting roasted by half the internet, and realized he messed up.
A short while later, he posted an apology on X (formerly Twitter). “Hey everyone, I want to apologize for the insensitive comment I made in the broadcast, it was a football game we used to play as a kid, but that’s not an excuse,” Robinson wrote. “I recognize 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!”
It reads like a genuine, “Oh no, I didn’t realize how bad that sounded until I said it out loud” moment. He’s young, and he was referencing a childhood memory, but in 2025, ignorance of that particular slur doesn’t really fly.
A Lesson in Media Training for the Young Star
This whole saga serves as a pretty brutal reminder that being an NFL star isn’t just about what you do between the hash marks. You are a brand, a face of a franchise, and you have a microphone in your face constantly.
The term Robinson used is obviously offensive. Most people figured that out a long time ago and switched to calling the game “Rumble Fumble” or “Kill the Carrier.” Dropping a homophobic slur on a national broadcast, accidental or not, is a massive unforced error.
Hopefully, this blows over as a learning experience for Robinson. He is an incredible talent who usually carries himself well. But let this be a lesson to every athlete out there: when Richard Sherman tees you up for a compliment about backyard football, just say “Thanks, man,” and keep it moving. Don’t dig up the problematic slang from your elementary school days. The Falcons got the win, but their PR team is definitely taking the loss this week.
