FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The first time Bijan Robinson communicated with Drake London, it was about a number.
The Atlanta Falcons drafted Robinson with the eighth overall pick in 2023. At Texas, Robinson wore No. 5, which was in use by London, who was selected by the Falcons with the exact same pick a year earlier.
Robinson got London's cell phone number from then-head coach Arthur Smith and shot the wide receiver a text. He wasn't sure exactly how it would go. Robinson didn't know London and some players can be attached to their numbers. So, Robinson, as is his way, asked in the most polite way possible.
London, to Robinson's relief, was amenable to giving up No. 5. London had worn No. 15 at Southern California. But when London found out that No. 15 wasn't available -- wide receiver Van Jefferson was going to wear it -- he told Robinson he was going to stay with No. 5. Robinson ended up choosing No. 7.
"It all worked out," Robinson said.
Robinson and London are now close friends and make up the offensive foundation for the Falcons -- and will for the foreseeable future. Both signed long-term contract extensions in the offseason, which will ostensibly keep them in Atlanta together through the 2030 season.
The Falcons (3-4) have had uneven results so far this season, as well as in the three previous years Robinson and London have been together. The team has failed to make the playoffs or have a winning season, but it is through no fault of its star duo.
Robinson has emerged as arguably the best running back in the NFL, leading the league in rushing this season (704 yards) and in scrimmage yards (2,298) last season. London has cemented himself as an elite wideout and is fourth in the NFL with 616 receiving yards. His touchdown Sunday helped the Falcons upset the San Francisco 49ers.
Individual accomplishments aside, Robinson and London share a collective goal: getting the Falcons back to the promised land. Atlanta has not made the playoffs since 2017, the second-longest drought in the NFL. (The Jets haven't reached the postseason in 15 seasons.) And the Falcons have never won a Super Bowl. Robinson and London want to be part of the core that changes that.
"[Bijan and I] talk about that before every season," London said. "This is the one where we got to do it. We're still striving for that and not even just together, but for this team, for this city, for the fans.
"I always say that, and that's exactly why I wanted to stay here. You'll be the first to ever do it. I don't care where you're at [on] the totem pole of this team, you're going to be the first to ever do it. And that means something. I know this city will go up if we do that."
Why the Robinson-London duo is among the NFL's best
Robinson and London sat shoulder to shoulder on the Falcons' bench. It was late in a 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers at home in Week 2. Robinson and London could both be seen talking to one another and shaking their heads, almost trying to figure out how the game had come to that.
"We were just talking about how to fix that situation, that game," Robinson said. "What can we do better? How can we be better? And that was the key to that conversation, man. Just how can we help improve this offense? How can we help improve this team to the best of our ability? And that's really what it was about right there."
There were some extenuating circumstances. The Falcons were playing third-string quarterback Cooper Rush with both Michael Penix Jr. (ACL) and Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) injured. Rush was dealing with back spasms himself, but played through them.
The following week, with Penix back, Robinson and London both went off. Robinson had 194 yards on the ground and London, fittingly, had the exact same total receiving in a 35-14 win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
It was the third time Robinson and London each went over 150 yards in the same game, an NFL record for a running back-wide receiver duo.
"I mean, that's cool and all, but sometimes I'll be talking to my friends back home, and I'll be tripping out that Bijan [texts] me and stuff like that," London said after the game. "You know what I'm saying? He's going to be a [gold] jacket wearer. ... So it's really, really cool and just blessed to be a part of something like that."
Robinson refers to London as his "real-life brother." The pair have been through two coaching changes in Atlanta, from Smith to Raheem Morris to Kevin Stefanski. The front office execs who drafted them are mostly gone. They have had a different starting quarterback to begin the season all four years they have been together.
"I call him my blood brother because we really are," Robinson said. "We do everything together. We work hard together, we train together, do things off the field.
"We talk about everything, and just seeing some of the adversity that we got to face throughout our career together and for these kinds of moments to happen is pretty special and I know he's enjoying it. I'm enjoying it, too."
The stars' families have grown close, too. Robinson's grandparents often meet up with London's parents the night before games and go to dinner together. It is a strong bond.
"They ended up clicking, and just every now and then we'll go out and eat and share a few words and stuff like that," London said. "My parents really do look up to them just as great people because of the age difference and stuff like that."
This stat on Bijan Robinson and Drake London 😤 https://t.co/3EbXmIH5BI
— ESPN (@espn) October 6, 2026
The two complement each other on the field, as well. London is one of the best blocking wide receivers in the league. Falcons offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has lauded London for how unselfish he is despite being the team's star wideout.
"When your best player, best receiver is selfless and willing to do those things and actually enjoys doing those things, I think it creates buy-in across the board," Rees said.
Without London's blocking, Robinson might not be able to break those long runs like that 55-yard scamper he had against the Packers. And without Robinson's ability, London said, he wouldn't have as much room on the outside because teams are forced to stack the box to contain the threat of the ground game.
"We got to lean on each other to make this train go," London said.
Both are great players, but London is the fiery one
Robinson said he believes he and London are very similar. They're both homebodies and somewhat introverted off the field. You won't find either of them partaking in Atlanta's nightlife.
On the field, though, teammates say they are very different. Both are extremely competitive, it just comes out in separate ways.
In that lopsided loss to the Panthers, London fired back verbally to a fan who was lobbing insults at him. London so badly wants to win that if things don't go that way he can lose his cool at times. Robinson always remains even-keeled, regardless of game results.
Drake London voicing his frustration on the #Falcons sideline. https://t.co/tmOObjymkk
— Miles Garrett (@MilesGarrettTV) September 20, 2026
"On the field, Drake is more loud, screaming, but Bijan, he's always calm and not really saying [much]," Penix said. "But in the locker room, they're both the same. They talk, they're quiet, humble, humble guys. Just on the field, Drake shows it, expresses it more than Bijan does verbally."
Has Robinson ever gotten angry and acted out?
"I've never seen him get upset," Penix said.
Tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., who got to Atlanta the year before London, echoed the sentiment.
"Definitely game day, Drake's probably the more fiery one," Pitts said. "Bijan's definitely not fiery. He's very competitive, but fiery, I don't know. He's not a super yeller, but he'll show leadership when he needs to for sure."
Robinson said London's intensity is one of the things he likes about his teammate and friend. It's one of the things, Robinson said, that gives the team the juice that can help it get over the hump, which both he and London are desperate to do.
"He's passionate, man," Robinson said. "And I try not to get in the way of that because that's what builds him. I mean, that's part of his game. He's a very passionate competitor and I appreciate it because he not only gets me going, but he gets everybody going.
"So, I think for me, just as a brother of him, just let him just be who he is because you don't want to change how players are because that's how they're built. But yeah, Drake, that's the fire that he brings."
Robinson saw the other side of London from their first conversation. London was the generous one who will always try to take care of his teammates. Even if it means giving up his number.
"I think from that moment is when I saw he was just a really great dude," Robinson said. "And when I met him that first day I got here, we clicked immediately and he saw how I was as a rookie, and he saw I wasn't trying to come in and be a jerk or be a bad person at all."
If the Falcons ascend this season, that Robinson-London friendship and their joint leadership will be a major factor.