| No. 41 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Safety | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1963-05-28)May 28, 1963 (age 62) Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 186 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Hartford (CT) Weaver | ||||||||
| College | Colgate | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1985: undrafted | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Eugene Keefe Robinson (born May 28, 1963) is an American former professionalfootballsafety who played in theNational Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. He spent the majority of his career with theSeattle Seahawks, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 1985. In addition to his 11 seasons with the Seahawks, he was a member of theGreen Bay Packers andAtlanta Falcons for two seasons each and theCarolina Panthers for one season.
During his Seattle tenure, Robinson was named to twoPro Bowls and led the league in interceptions in 1993. Robinson's two seasons with the Packers saw him reach theSuper Bowl in both years and winSuper Bowl XXXI. With the Falcons, he earned a third Pro Bowl selection and made a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance.
During high school, Robinson was not a sought after recruit and did not receive any major scholarship offers. He was interested in attendingColgate although they did not offer athletic scholarships and were known for their academics. When he inquired about joining their football program as a walk-on, Colgate wouldn't guarantee he'd receive a roster spot, but did guarantee he'd at least receive a tryout. He began attendingColgate University in 1981 and successfully joined the football team as a walk-on. While attending, Robinson also was part of their wrestling team and worked a part-time job atMcDonald's to pay his tuition. He became a starter during his sophomore year in 1982. During his sophomore and junior seasons, he was limited to 34 combined tackles and one interception. As a senior, he remained a starting defensive back and recorded 52 combined tackles and two interceptions throughout the 1984 season.[1]
After playingcollege football atColgate University, Robinson spent his first 11 NFL seasons with the Seahawks, being selected to thePro Bowl twice in 1992 and 1993. Robinson is the Seahawks' 2nd all-time tackle leader and second in interceptions.
On June 27, 1996, theSeattle Seahawks traded Robinson to theGreen Bay Packers in exchange for defensive endMatt LaBounty. Plans for the Seahawks trading Robinson had been rumoured got some time after he allegedly refused to agree to take a 75% pay cut for the upcoming season, from $1.2 million to $300,000. He became expendable after the Seahawks signed free agentDarryl Williams.[2]
That year, he recorded 55 tackles and led Green Bay with eight interceptions. After the1996 season, the Packers went on to winSuper Bowl XXXI 35–21, over his hometown team, theNew England Patriots, earning Robinson achampionship ring. Then again, after the1997 season, Robinson and the Packers went toSuper Bowl XXXII, however they lost 31–24, to theDenver Broncos. With his team trailing 24–17 in the third quarter, Robinson intercepted a pass from BroncosquarterbackJohn Elway in the end zone, preventing Denver from building a bigger lead and setting up a touchdown on Green Bay's ensuing drive to tie the game. He also recorded an interception ofSteve Young that set up a touchdown in the Packers 23–10 win over theSan Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game two weeks prior.
After the 1997 season, Robinson joined theAtlanta Falcons in 1998. During the season, Robinson recorded 46 tackles, two fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and one touchdown return, earning his third career Pro Bowl selection. After making a game-saving play inthe NFC Championship game (breaking up an otherwise certain winning touchdown toMinnesota Vikings wide receiverRandy Moss), Robinson made it to his third consecutive Super Bowl, facing the Broncos for the second straight season.
The night prior toSuper Bowl XXXIII, Robinson was arrested by an undercover police officer for soliciting aprostitute.[3] Earlier that day, Robinson received theAthletes in Action/Bart Starr Award, given annually to a player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community. After the arrest, Robinson agreed to return the award.[4]
The next day, without much sleep the night before due to the prostitution incident, Robinson gave up an 80-yard touchdown reception to Broncos receiverRod Smith, giving the Broncos a 17–3 lead over the Falcons. Later, in the fourth quarter, he missed a tackle on Denver running backTerrell Davis that enabled Davis to break a long run to the Atlanta 10-yard line. The Atlanta Falcons ended up losing the game, 34–19, and Robinson was widely denounced by the press and fans for the previous night's incident. Thenext season was Robinson's last with the Falcons.
After leaving the Falcons, Robinson joined theCarolina Panthers, and retired following the2000 season.
In his 16 seasons, Robinson recorded 1,415tackles, 57interceptions, 762 return yards, 22 fumble recoveries, 71 return yards, and two touchdowns (one fumble return, one interception return), and 7.5sacks. His 57 interceptions have been exceeded by just 11 players, four of whom are in thePro Football Hall of Fame.
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won theSuper Bowl | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sck | Int | Yds | TD | PD | FF | FR | ||
| 1985 | SEA | 16 | 0 | 28 | – | – | – | 0.0 | 2 | 47 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | SEA | 16 | 16 | 99 | – | – | – | 0.0 | 3 | 39 | 0 | – | 0 | 3 |
| 1987 | SEA | 12 | 12 | 69 | – | – | – | 0.0 | 3 | 75 | 0 | – | 0 | 1 |
| 1988 | SEA | 16 | 16 | 115 | – | – | – | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | SEA | 16 | 14 | 107 | – | – | – | 0.0 | 5 | 24 | 0 | – | 2 | 1 |
| 1990 | SEA | 16 | 16 | 82 | – | – | – | 0.0 | 3 | 89 | 0 | – | 1 | 4 |
| 1991 | SEA | 16 | 16 | 93 | – | – | – | 1.0 | 5 | 56 | 0 | – | 1 | 1 |
| 1992 | SEA | 16 | 16 | 94 | – | – | – | 0.0 | 7 | 126 | 0 | – | 2 | 1 |
| 1993 | SEA | 16 | 16 | 111 | – | – | – | 2.0 | 9 | 80 | 0 | – | 3 | 2 |
| 1994 | SEA | 14 | 14 | 80 | 65 | 15 | – | 1.0 | 3 | 18 | 0 | – | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 | SEA | 16 | 16 | 105 | 79 | 26 | – | 0.0 | 1 | 32 | 0 | – | 0 | 1 |
| 1996 | GB | 16 | 16 | 81 | 55 | 26 | – | 0.0 | 6 | 107 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | GB | 16 | 16 | 112 | 75 | 37 | – | 2.5 | 1 | 26 | 0 | – | 1 | 2 |
| 1998 | ATL | 16 | 16 | 68 | 48 | 20 | – | 0.0 | 4 | 36 | 1 | – | 2 | 2 |
| 1999 | ATL | 16 | 16 | 92 | 63 | 29 | 3 | 0.0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | CAR | 16 | 16 | 77 | 65 | 12 | 1 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Career | 250 | 232 | 1,413 | 450 | 165 | 4 | 7.5 | 57 | 762 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 22 | |
Robinson served as acolor analyst for theCarolina Panthers Radio Network from 2002 to 2018.[5] He is a varsity football and wrestling coach atCharlotte Christian School inCharlotte, North Carolina.
Beginning in January 2015, Robinson is a co-host of the morning television showCharlotte Today onWCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC.
Robinson is a Christian and spoke with the Carolina Panthers team before Super Bowl 50.[6]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
