Eugene Robinson (American football)
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| Position | Safety | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | May 28, 1963 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 186 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Hartford (CT) Weaver | ||||||||
| College | Colgate | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1985: undrafted | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Eugene Keefe Robinson (born May 28, 1963) is an American former professional football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. He spent the majority of his career with the Seattle Seahawks, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 1985. In addition to his 11 seasons with the Seahawks, he was a member of the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons for two seasons each and the Carolina Panthers for one season.
During his Seattle tenure, Robinson was named to two Pro Bowls and led the league in interceptions in 1993. Robinson's two seasons with the Packers saw him reach the Super Bowl in both years and win Super Bowl XXXI. With the Falcons, he earned a third Pro Bowl selection and made a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance.
College career
[edit]During high school, Robinson was not a sought after recruit and did not receive any major scholarship offers. He was interested in attending Colgate although they did not offer athletic scholarships and were known for their academics. When he inquired about joining their football program as a walk-on, Colgate wouldn't guarantee he'd receive a roster spot, but did guarantee he'd at least receive a tryout. He began attending Colgate University in 1981 and successfully joined the football team as a walk-on. While attending, Robinson also was part of their wrestling team and worked a part-time job at McDonald's to pay his tuition. He became a starter during his sophomore year in 1982. During his sophomore and junior seasons, he was limited to 34 combined tackles and one interception. As a senior, he remained a starting defensive back and recorded 52 combined tackles and two interceptions throughout the 1984 season.[1]
Professional career
[edit]Seattle Seahawks
[edit]After playing college football at Colgate University, Robinson spent his first 11 NFL seasons with the Seahawks, being selected to the Pro Bowl twice in 1992 and 1993. Robinson is the Seahawks' 2nd all-time tackle leader and second in interceptions.
Green Bay Packers
[edit]On June 27, 1996, the Seattle Seahawks traded Robinson to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for defensive end Matt LaBounty. Plans for the Seahawks trading Robinson had been rumoured got some time after he allegedly refused to agree to take a 75% pay cut for the upcoming season, from $1.2 million to $300,000. He became expendable after the Seahawks signed free agent Darryl Williams.[2]
That year, he recorded 55 tackles and led Green Bay with eight interceptions. After the 1996 season, the Packers went on to win Super Bowl XXXI 35–21, over his hometown team, the New England Patriots, earning Robinson a championship ring. Then again, after the 1997 season, Robinson and the Packers went to Super Bowl XXXII, however they lost 31–24, to the Denver Broncos. With his team trailing 24–17 in the third quarter, Robinson intercepted a pass from Broncos quarterback John Elway in the end zone, preventing Denver from building a bigger lead and setting up a touchdown on Green Bay's ensuing drive to tie the game. He also recorded an interception of Steve Young that set up a touchdown in the Packers 23–10 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game two weeks prior.
Atlanta Falcons
[edit]After the 1997 season, Robinson joined the Atlanta Falcons in 1998. During the season, Robinson recorded 46 tackles, two fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and one touchdown return, earning his third career Pro Bowl selection. After making a game-saving play in the NFC Championship game (breaking up an otherwise certain winning touchdown to Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss), Robinson made it to his third consecutive Super Bowl, facing the Broncos for the second straight season.
The night prior to Super Bowl XXXIII, Robinson was arrested by an undercover police officer for soliciting a prostitute.[3] Earlier that day, Robinson received the Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award, given annually to a player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community. After the arrest, Robinson agreed to return the award.[4]
The next day, without much sleep the night before due to the prostitution incident, Robinson gave up an 80-yard touchdown reception to Broncos receiver Rod Smith, giving the Broncos a 17–3 lead over the Falcons. Later, in the fourth quarter, he missed a tackle on Denver running back Terrell Davis that enabled Davis to break a long run to the Atlanta 10-yard line.[5] The Atlanta Falcons ended up losing the game, 34–19,[6] and Robinson was widely denounced by the press and fans for the previous night's incident. The next season was Robinson's last with the Falcons.
Carolina Panthers
[edit]After leaving the Falcons, Robinson joined the Carolina Panthers, and retired following the 2000 season.
Career summary
[edit]In his 16 seasons, Robinson recorded 1,415 tackles, 57 interceptions, 762 return yards, 22 fumble recoveries, 71 return yards, and two touchdowns (one fumble return, one interception return), and 7.5 sacks. His 57 interceptions have been exceeded by just 11 players, four of whom are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
NFL career statistics
[edit]| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won the Super Bowl | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sck | Int | Yds | TD | PD | FF | FR | ||
| 1985 | SEA | 16 | 0 | 28 | – | – | – | 0.0 | 2 | 47 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | SEA | 16 | 16 | 99 | – | – | – | 0.0 | 3 | 39 | 0 | – | 0 | 3 |
| 1987 | SEA | 12 | 12 | 69 | – | – | – | 0.0 | 3 | 75 | 0 | – | 0 | 1 |
| 1988 | SEA | 16 | 16 | 115 | – | – | – | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | SEA | 16 | 14 | 107 | – | – | – | 0.0 | 5 | 24 | 0 | – | 2 | 1 |
| 1990 | SEA | 16 | 16 | 82 | – | – | – | 0.0 | 3 | 89 | 0 | – | 1 | 4 |
| 1991 | SEA | 16 | 16 | 93 | – | – | – | 1.0 | 5 | 56 | 0 | – | 1 | 1 |
| 1992 | SEA | 16 | 16 | 94 | – | – | – | 0.0 | 7 | 126 | 0 | – | 2 | 1 |
| 1993 | SEA | 16 | 16 | 111 | – | – | – | 2.0 | 9 | 80 | 0 | – | 3 | 2 |
| 1994 | SEA | 14 | 14 | 80 | 65 | 15 | – | 1.0 | 3 | 18 | 0 | – | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 | SEA | 16 | 16 | 105 | 79 | 26 | – | 0.0 | 1 | 32 | 0 | – | 0 | 1 |
| 1996 | GB | 16 | 16 | 81 | 55 | 26 | – | 0.0 | 6 | 107 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | GB | 16 | 16 | 112 | 75 | 37 | – | 2.5 | 1 | 26 | 0 | – | 1 | 2 |
| 1998 | ATL | 16 | 16 | 68 | 48 | 20 | – | 0.0 | 4 | 36 | 1 | – | 2 | 2 |
| 1999 | ATL | 16 | 16 | 92 | 63 | 29 | 3 | 0.0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | CAR | 16 | 16 | 77 | 65 | 12 | 1 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Career | 250 | 232 | 1,413 | 450 | 165 | 4 | 7.5 | 57 | 762 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 22 | |
Coaching and broadcasting career
[edit]Robinson served as a color analyst for the Carolina Panthers Radio Network from 2002 to 2018.[7] He is a varsity football and wrestling coach at Charlotte Christian School in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Beginning in January 2015, Robinson is a co-host of the morning television show Charlotte Today on WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC.
Personal life
[edit]Robinson is a Christian and spoke with the Carolina Panthers team before Super Bowl 50.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Colgate University Hall of Honor: Eugene Robinson". ColgateAthletics.com. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
- ^ "Robinson Traded To Packers For Defensive End Labounty". spokesman.com. June 28, 1996. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ Freeman, Mike (February 2, 1999). "SUPER BOWL XXXIII; Robinson's Arrest Looms Larger After the Falcons' Defeat". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Nidetz, Stephen (February 6, 1999). "FALCONS' ROBINSON TO RETURN AWARD FOR GOOD CHARACTER". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ "ESPN.com: Falcons' Robinson charged with solicitation". www.espn.com. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
- ^ Heath, Jon (January 31, 2025). "On this date in 1999: Broncos won Super Bowl XXXIII". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
- ^ "Eugene Robinson will not return as radio analyst for Panthers". Carolina Panthers.
- ^ "A Redemption Story—17 Years in the Making". Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 1963 births
- Living people
- American Conference Pro Bowl players
- American football safeties
- Atlanta Falcons players
- Carolina Panthers announcers
- Carolina Panthers players
- Colgate Raiders football players
- Green Bay Packers players
- High school football coaches in North Carolina
- High school wrestling coaches in the United States
- National Conference Pro Bowl players
- NFL announcers
- Players of American football from Hartford, Connecticut
- Seattle Seahawks players
- Sportspeople from Hartford, Connecticut