When he isn’t starring in, directing, or producing major motion pictures, actor Matthew McConaughey works as a professor of practice at his alma mater – the University of Texas at Austin.
He also spends plenty of time as a super fan of the school’s college football team – with the Texas Longhorns currently on an upward trajectory over the past few seasons.
Over the course of that time, he’s been able to meet with many of the stars in the sport that don the burnt orange of Texas.
One of those was current Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson. But unlike the others who have had ‘the eyes of Texas’ turned upon them, Robinson’s appreciation for McConaughey went beyond admiring him as a celebrity – he wanted to learn from him.
When he isn’t carrying the rock for the Falcons, Robinson moonlights as an actor – having grown up with an interest in film and wanting to go into the field himself.
The pair struck a bond and McConaughey has been giving Robinson guidance as he breaks into new roles in the likes of Disney Channel shows – as well as hit Netflix dramas.
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has always showed an interest in pursuing acting
While at school, he struck a bond with a particular professor: actor Matthew McConaughey
Robinson’s always had the dream of becoming a professional football player from when he was a child. But his interest in acting grew around the same time.
‘Obviously my love and joy is football. That’s my passion. I feel like you can do so many other things, too,’ the Falcons star told ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.
He added that when he grew up, he was encouraged to give the craft a try: ‘It was people saying, Man, you should be an actor one day or something like that.
‘And I was like, I can I see myself doing that. And then when I got to college is when I started to learn and study the craft.’
As a freshman, Robinson took up the class ‘Fundamentals of Acting’ where he quickly took to expressing himself on a stage.
‘He was great. He asked really good questions, and he tried things,’ lecturer Barbara Chisholm recalled. ‘It’s a very vulnerable thing to be in this class. He was so open to it and super eager.’
Around the same time, Robinson began developing a relationship with McConaughey – who he first met on a recruiting visit.
‘That dude right there means everything,’ Robinson revealed. ‘He was just a big brother to me.’
Robinson first met McConaughey while on a visit to Texas back in 2019 before commiting there
Robinson not only stood out on Texas’ football field, but in the classroom as well
McConaughey recalled hearing about Robinson’s curiosity with the craft and offered pointers: ‘When I found out he was interested in acting and performing. I was like, performance, it’s about being able to honestly behave in front of the camera, not acting for the camera. It’s behaving, doing what you do and letting the camera catch you. That’s real performance.
‘If he can be himself while the cameras are on, while the 110,000 people are watching, and the world has got their eyes on us, that’s a difficult and awesome thing to be able to do.’
After leaving college, Robinson began doing commercials – including for his own line of mustard.
That led to smaller roles and cameos in ‘Outer Banks’ as well as the Disney Channel live-action show ‘Bunk’d’.
When it came to the latter show, Robinson recalled, ‘Oh, it was so much fun. Me being in a space with all these other actors. When everything started, I think they expected me be the athlete trying to do an acting thing.
‘But then when I started going, they were like, Oh, wait a minute, he actually was pretty good at this. We started adding more lines and stuff. Just keep adding myself in the show.’
McConaughey shared further advice: ‘Acting is all about having an understanding what you need and overcoming the obstacles… Good acting is coming into the scene with a plan, but being off balance and then having to find your balance as you run into obstacles and resistance. And then hopefully get to where you want to go.’
Robinson says that his goal is to eventually play a role as a superhero, saying, ‘One day, I need to be this guy that everybody falls in love with and he just saves the world.’
Robinson has since landed roles in Netflix’s ‘Outer Banks’ (L) and Disney Channel’s ‘Bunk’d’ (R)
Even though he’s two years into his football career, Robinson is one of the NFL’s best backs
He already does that on the field for the Falcons week-in and week-out.
It’s just his second year in the NFL, but Robinson is currently in the top ten in the league for rushing yards and tied for 12th in rushing touchdowns.
His offensive output helped power Atlanta to where they are now – a 6-6 record and a lead in the NFC South division with a spot in the playoffs within reach.
Atlanta will likely ask Robinson to be a hero once again this Sunday when the Falcons take on the high-flying Minnesota Vikings on the road.
