Jerry Robinson

Jerry Robinson is a former NFL linebacker known for his collegiate All-American honors and a professional career spanning 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Raiders. After distinguishing himself as a three-time consensus first-team All-American at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) from 1976 to 1978, Jerry Robinson went on to an illustrious 13-season professional career. At UCLA, Robinson quickly transitioned from tight end to outside linebacker, setting a school record with 28 tackles in a single game in 1976 and accumulating a career total of 468 tackles, another institutional record. He also demonstrated exceptional playmaking ability by returning three intercepted passes for touchdowns, with runs of 95, 72, and 69 yards.

His collegiate dominance earned him the prestigious Linebacker of the Year award by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York in both 1977 and 1978, alongside the Pop Warner Award as the best West Coast player in 1978. In recognition of his profound impact, UCLA retired his jersey number, 84, and he was subsequently inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. Robinson’s professional journey commenced when the Philadelphia Eagles selected him in the first round as the 21st overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft. He played a pivotal six seasons for the Eagles from 1979 to 1984, becoming a key figure on the team that achieved a Super Bowl XV appearance.

Beyond his playing days, Robinson continued to receive significant recognition for his monumental contributions to collegiate football. His induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996 underscored his enduring legacy. Further cementing his place among the sport’s elite, he was included in the esteemed Sports Illustrated All-Century Team for college football in 1999, recognizing his unparalleled dominance and influence on the game throughout the 20th century.