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Bo Robinson
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Bo Robinson
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Melvin Dell "Bo" Robinson Jr. (born May 27, 1956) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots. He was selected by the Lions in the third round of the 1979 NFL draft after playing college football at West Texas State University.

Key Information

Early life and college

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Melvin Dell Robinson Jr. was born on May 27, 1956, in Lamesa, Texas.[1] He attended Lamesa High School in Lamesa.[1]

He lettered for the West Texas State Buffaloes from 1975 to 1978.[1] He rushed 136 times for 538 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman in 1975.[2] He totaled 148 carries for 725 yards and three touchdowns in 1976.[2] Robinson recorded 201 rushing attempts for 1,399 yards and 12 touchdown in 1977, leading the Missouri Valley Conference in all three categories.[2] He rushed 168 times for 880 yards and three touchdowns his senior year in 1978.[2]

Professional career

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Robinson was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round, with the 67th overall pick, of the 1979 NFL draft.[3] He played in 14 games, starting 12, for the Lions during his rookie year in 1979, rushing 87 times for 302 yards and two touchdowns while also catching 14 passes for 118 yards.[3] He appeared in 14 games again in 1980, recording three carries for two yards.[3] He was released by the Lions on August 31, 1981.[4]

Robinson signed with the Atlanta Falcons on September 9, 1981.[4] He played in 15 games during the 1981 season, rushing nine times for 24 yards.[3] He appeared in nine games for the Falcons in 1982, totaling 19 rushing attempts for 108 yards and seven receptions for 55 yards and two touchdowns.[3] Robinson also appeared in one playoff game that season but did not record any statistics.[3] He played in 12 games, starting nine, in 1983, rushing three times for nine yards while catching 12 passes for 100 yards.[3] He was waived by the Falcons on August 27, 1984.[4]

Robinson was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots on August 28, 1984.[4] He played in all 16 games, starting one, for the Patriots in 1984, recording four receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown.[3] He was placed on injured reserve on September 2, 1985, and spent the entire 1985 season there.[4] The next year, he was placed on injured reserve again on August 19, 1986, before being released on September 20, 1986.[4]

References

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Bo Robinson

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''Bo Robinson'' is an American former professional football player known for his six-season career as a running back, fullback, and tight end in the National Football League (NFL). Born Melvin Dell Robinson on May 27, 1956, in Lamesa, Texas, he played college football at West Texas A&M University before entering the professional ranks. Drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft, Robinson began his NFL tenure with the Lions from 1979 to 1980, later playing for the Atlanta Falcons from 1981 to 1983 and concluding his career with the New England Patriots in 1984. He appeared in 80 regular-season games across his career, serving primarily as a complementary back and role player early on before transitioning to additional duties at tight end. Robinson's contributions came during an era of competitive NFC teams, though he did not earn major individual accolades such as Pro Bowl selections or All-Pro honors. Limited public information exists about his post-playing career or personal life, with his legacy centered on his professional tenure in the NFL as a durable and versatile contributor to three franchises.

Early life and education

Birth and background

Melvin Dell "Bo" Robinson was born on May 27, 1956, in Lamesa, Texas. As of 2025, he is 69 years old. He grew up in Lamesa, Texas, where he attended Lamesa High School. Limited public information is available regarding his family background or early childhood beyond his birthplace and hometown.

High school and college entry

Bo Robinson attended Lamesa High School in Lamesa, Texas. He subsequently played college football at West Texas State University, now known as West Texas A&M University. No detailed records of his high school football performance or achievements are documented in major professional sports databases.

College football career

West Texas State University (1975–1978)

Bo Robinson played college football at West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University) as a running back for the Buffaloes, lettering in all four seasons from 1975 to 1978 while competing in the Missouri Valley Conference. As a freshman in 1975, he appeared in 11 games and rushed for 538 yards and 5 touchdowns on 136 carries, averaging 4.0 yards per attempt. In 1976, he increased his output with 148 carries for 725 yards and 3 touchdowns in 11 games, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. His performance continued to build toward a breakout season. Robinson's junior campaign in 1977 marked the peak of his collegiate career, as he led the Missouri Valley Conference in rushing attempts (201), rushing yards (1,399), yards per attempt (7.0), and rushing touchdowns (12) across 11 games. His 1,399 rushing yards ranked fourth nationally among NCAA players that season. This dominant showing established him as one of the conference's premier rushers. In his senior year of 1978, Robinson carried the ball 168 times for 880 yards and 3 touchdowns in 11 games, averaging 5.2 yards per attempt. Across his four-year career at West Texas State, he amassed 653 rushing attempts for 3,542 yards and 23 touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry.

Professional football career

1979 NFL Draft and Detroit Lions (1979–1980)

Bo Robinson was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round (67th overall) of the 1979 NFL Draft. Wearing jersey number 36, he joined the team as a running back following his college career at West Texas State University. In his rookie season of 1979, Robinson played in all 14 games, earning 12 starts, and rushed for 302 yards on 87 attempts with 2 touchdowns. He added 14 receptions for 118 yards, fumbled 3 times, and contributed 1 kick return for 8 yards. His performance established him as a contributor on offense during his first professional year. Robinson's role diminished sharply in 1980, as he appeared in 14 games but started none and carried the ball only 3 times for 2 yards. This limited usage reflected a decline in playing time compared to his rookie campaign.

Atlanta Falcons (1981–1983)

Bo Robinson joined the Atlanta Falcons in 1981 and wore jersey number 33 during his tenure with the team. He played primarily as a running back in his first two seasons before transitioning to tight end in 1983. In 1981, Robinson appeared in 15 games with no starts, rushing nine times for 24 yards. His strongest statistical output occurred in 1982 during the strike-shortened season, when he played all nine games without starting, rushing 19 times for 108 yards and catching seven passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns. In 1983, as a tight end, he started nine of the 12 games in which he played, rushing three times for nine yards, catching 12 passes for 100 yards, and fumbling once. Robinson also appeared in one postseason game following the 1982 season but recorded no statistics in that playoff contest.

New England Patriots (1984) and retirement

Bo Robinson joined the New England Patriots in 1984, wearing jersey number 41 as a tight end. He appeared in all 16 games that season, starting one. His offensive contributions included four receptions for 32 yards and one touchdown, while he also returned three kickoffs for 38 yards. Robinson's tenure with the Patriots ended due to injuries. On September 2, 1985, he was placed on injured reserve, causing him to miss the entire 1985 season. He re-injured himself during the 1986 training camp and was placed on injured reserve on August 19, 1986, before the team released him on September 20, 1986. Robinson did not play in any further NFL games after the 1984 season.

Career statistics

Regular season performance

Bo Robinson appeared in 80 regular season games during his NFL career from 1979 to 1984, starting 22 of them. He accumulated 121 rushing attempts for 445 yards, averaging 3.7 yards per carry, and scored 2 rushing touchdowns, with his longest rush covering 29 yards. As a receiver, Robinson caught 37 passes for 305 yards, averaging 8.2 yards per reception, with 3 receiving touchdowns and a longest catch of 29 yards. In total, Robinson registered 158 scrimmage touches for 750 scrimmage yards and 5 touchdowns overall. He recorded 4 fumbles and added 4 kickoff returns for 46 yards. Pro-Football-Reference assigns him a weighted career Approximate Value of 6. Robinson received no Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections during his career.

Postseason and overall totals

Bo Robinson's postseason career was limited to a single appearance with the Atlanta Falcons during the 1982 NFL season. He played in the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings on January 9, 1983, but recorded no individual statistics in rushing, receiving, or any other category. Across his entire NFL career, Robinson totaled 5 touchdowns for 30 points. His Pro Football Hall of Fame Monitor score is 0.40, ranking him 896th among running backs and well below the average of 106.95 for inducted Hall of Fame running backs, underscoring a low relative standing for potential enshrinement.

Media and television appearances

Bo Robinson appeared as himself in several NFL game telecasts during his playing career. These include one episode of NFL Monday Night Football in 1982 (credited as Atlanta Falcons Running Back and Tight End), one episode of The NFL on NBC in 1984 (as New England Patriots Running Back), and seven episodes of The NFL on CBS from 1979 to 1983 (in various roles including Running Back, Fullback, and Tight End for the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons). No acting, scripted television, or other media roles have been identified beyond these self-appearances in sports broadcast contexts. His post-playing media presence remains sparse, with no evidence of ongoing broadcasting, analysis, or commentary roles in NFL coverage.
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