Third-year Falcons running back Bijan Robinson listed as MVP candidate ahead of 2025 NFL season
It’s been nine years since a member of the Atlanta Falcons last won the league MVP. Former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan took home the award in 2016 following his remarkable season.
Ryan passed for 4,944 yards, 38 touchdowns and seven touchdowns while leading the team to a division title and eventual berth in the Super Bowl. As Atlanta prepares for the start of training camp next week, a different player has emerged in the MVP conversation.
Not only was third-year running back Bijan Robinson our choice for the team’s most valuable non-quarterback, but now NFL.com has taken it a step further by listing Robinson as the Falcons’ top MVP candidate for 2025.
Bijan Robinson named MVP candidate by NFL.com:
Some will disagree with this choice, and given that only three running backs have won an MVP award since 2001 (and none since 2012), history is on my skeptics’ side. Look at Saquon Barkley last year — he racked up 2,283 yards from scrimmage, registered just the ninth 2,000-yard rushing season in league annals … and finished third in the balloting.
It’s going to take a Barkley-esque yardage total and 20-plus TDs, I suspect, for Robinson to be a serious candidate. But I like his chances better right now than those of Michael Penix Jr., a talented but unproven quarterback. He’s probably capable of a Joe Burrow-like Year 2, but expecting that level of individual success is just a big leap for me at the moment. — Eric Edholm, NFL.com
As Edholm pointed out, the league MVP is almost always awarded to the NFL’s top quarterback. Bills quarterback Josh Allen won the award last season despite there being two worthy running backs in Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry.
For Robinson to secure the award, he would need to have one of the best seasons in NFL history, and the Falcons would probably have to win their division.
The former top-10 pick certainly has a nose for the end zone, scoring 23 total touchdowns over his first two NFL seasons. Robinson could realistically flirt with the 2,000-yard rushing milestone next year as well.
However, there are so many factors outside of Robinson’s control that it’s hard to see him winning MVP this season. If the Falcons go out and dominate, though, don’t be surprised to see Penix in the mix.
Atlanta officially reports for training camp on July 23. The first of the team’s 11 open practices begins on July 24. Make sure to check out our latest 53-man roster projection for the Falcons ahead of the 2025 season.