The recent trade with the Washington Commanders for running back Brian Robinson was music to my ears. The money is right, the player is right, and I really have no idea why the Commanders would let him go.

I am familiar with Robinson because, as an Alabama grad, I watched him work his way up the depth chart at Bama. In his freshman year, he sat behind Najee Harris, Josh Jacobs, and Damien Harris. Those are three talents no freshmen outside of someone named Bo Jackson or a few others would start over. However, those three were also outstanding upperclassmen to observe and learn from in practice and in games. Robinson got to watch how they carried themselves, how they handled not getting as many carries as they would like, and how they competed for the starting spot.


Additionally, he observed how they handled winning a national championship.

And that means after you win one, you get back to work. Seniors and star juniors will be leaving, and it is up to the rising sophomores to keep the team where the others left off. Under Nick Saban, there was little basking.

Nowadays, players jump from one team to another if they don't like the number of reps they are getting. They don't do well waiting for their turn. They imagine that starting for three years at an average school is better for draft position than starting for one year at a powerhouse, such as Alabama, Ohio State, or Georgia. Robinson stayed. In a backfield that included two 1st-round picks, he worked and waited, and slowly moved up the depth chart, becoming the primary backup in their next championship season.

When his turn came in 2021, he was ready. He rushed for over 1,300 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. He was not the fastest back, nor the most elusive, but the words that fit him perfectly were "moving forward" and "determination." He did not have the natural athleticism of Jacobs or Najee, but one was struck by how, no matter how weak the blocking on a given play, Robinson gained positive yardage. I do not recall negative plays. He made more noteworthy 2-yard gains than any player I can remember (look at the short-yardage runs here). He was also not a bad receiver, with 35 catches on a team that included Jameson Williams and John Metchie.

In Washington, Robinson's yards per carry have gone up each year. He began his career on a team that was not exactly known for great blocking, and there is no doubt Jayden Daniels benefited from Robinson's hard-nosed carries last year. It is certainly easier to run an RPO on 3rd-and-short if the defense needs to load the box against a runner who can get you 2-3 yards almost guaranteed.


What Robinson brings to the 49ers


Robinson is a backup in SF. Christian McCaffrey owns the starting job. The only question is whether the primary backup will be Robinson or Isaac Guerendo. That is another reason this is a great trade. Robinson does not have Guerendo's speed, but he provides the toughness that the second-year back lacks. Kyle Shanahan can deploy either in different situations depending on the circumstances. He needs to rest McCaffrey more than he has in the past, and in games in which the 49ers need to grind out a victory, Robinson would provide the punch to wear down a defense.

The other thing Robinson brings to Santa Clara, though, is a different kind of experience. His entire career leading up to the NFL was marked by success. He knows what it feels like to win championships (twice) and the sour taste of losing in a championship game. He does not have to be taught what a winning culture feels like, and he understands very well what accountability means (Nick Saban is not one to let mistakes slide). A veteran who knows those things can help younger players.

Robinson also played five years in the SEC. Though the NFL is much tougher than college, if one looks at the top teams in this league, one sees many are loaded with players from the powerhouses. It is noteworthy that the most recent Super Bowl champs have five starters from the SEC on offense (four from Alabama) and five on defense (four from Georgia). Howie Roseman made a point of drafting not only talented players, but players from major winners. Three of the Alabama stars wear championship rings, as do the four Georgia products—pedigree matters. Knowing how to win is not easy to teach.

So, I am thrilled we have someone who brings so much to the Niners beyond the physical talent many players possess. I am excited to watch him spell Christian. And, for only a 6th-round pick, this was an easy decision for John Lynch to make.

Written By:

Jack Stewart


Jack Stewart was educated at Alabama and Emory and was a Brittain Fellow at Georgia Tech. His poetry has been published widely in the US and several other countries. His book No Reason was published in the Poeima Poetry Series in 2020.
All articles by Jack Stewart


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