Jerry Robinson

Jerry Dewayne Robinson was born on December 18, 1956, in Marin County, California. He attended Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa, California, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track. After high school, Robinson enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), playing for the Bruins from 1975 to 1978. Initially recruited as a tight end, his coaches transitioned him to outside linebacker. He quickly distinguished himself, earning consensus first-team All-American honors three times consecutively from 1976 to 1978. At UCLA, Robinson set a school record with 28 tackles in a single game in 1976 and accumulated a career total of 468 tackles, another school record. He also demonstrated his playmaking ability by returning three intercepted passes for touchdowns, with runs of 95, 72, and 69 yards. His college success led to him being named Linebacker of the Year by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York in both 1977 and 1978, and he received the Pop Warner Award as the best West Coast player in 1978. In recognition of his collegiate achievements, UCLA retired his jersey number, 84, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

Robinson’s professional career began when the Philadelphia Eagles selected him in the first round as the 21st overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft. He played for the Eagles from 1979 to 1984. During his tenure with the Eagles, he was a key figure on the team that reached Super Bowl XV. His performance during the 1981 season earned him a Pro Bowl selection. Following six seasons with the Eagles, Robinson joined the Los Angeles Raiders, where he played from 1985 until his retirement in 1991. Throughout his impressive 13-season NFL career, Robinson participated in 184 games, starting 147 of them. His professional statistics include 12 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries, along with 19.5 sacks.