Atlanta Falcons agree deal to make Bijan Robinson highest paid running back in NFL history

The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a three-year contract extension with Bijan Robinson that will make him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.

According to Spotrac.com, the extension, which runs through to the 2030 season, is worth up to $75m (£55m), with the $51m (£37m) guaranteed portion a record for a running back.

Robinson will need to achieve multiple incentives to earn the full $75m (£55m), but even without doing that, the base level three-year $66.75m (£49.6m) deal will give the 24-year-old highest annual salary an NFL running back has ever earnt.

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The $22.25m (£16.5m) per year takes him past the previous high mark of $20.6m (£15.3m) being earnt by Saquon Barkley at the Philadelphia Eagles.

Robinson reposted the NFL's Instagram post detailing the extension on Tuesday morning, writing "God this is for you! Blessings. Love this team and this city!"

NFL Network and ESPN first reported the extension. Robinson's agent, Nicole Lynn of Klutch Sports, posted on X on Tuesday morning, "Anyone have a brinks truck?"

The deal with Robinson continued the Falcons' trend of locking up foundation players on their offense.

On Saturday, the Falcons announced signing left guard Matthew Bergeron to a four-year contract extension. The team gave new contracts to wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts during the offseason.

The new deal comes after Robinson spent the first week of training camp, including Monday's first day in pads, as a spectator.

He attended the practices but did not participate in an apparent contract "hold-in" as he sought a new deal ahead of the start of the NFL regular season on September 10.

A panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers ranked Robinson the league's top running back in a pre-season poll. Robinson led the NFL with 2,298 yards from scrimmage and scored 11 TDs last season.

Robinson has been the focus of Atlanta's productive ground game since he was the No 8 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He flourished as a dual-threat back last season, finishing fourth in the league with 1,478 rushing yards while adding 820 receiving yards.

Steven Jackson in 2006 is the only other player ever with at least 1,400 rushing yards and 800 receiving yards in the same season.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Atlanta Falcons agree deal to make Bijan Robinson highest paid running back in NFL history