Dorian Thompson-Robinson Bio
Dorian Trevor Thompson-Robinson is an American professional football quarterback who has competed across multiple leagues including the NFL and UFL. Born on November 14, 1999, in Columbia, South Carolina, he established himself as a dual-threat quarterback during his college career at UCLA before entering the professional ranks. Thompson-Robinson was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and has since continued his professional journey through multiple organizations. Known for his athleticism and playmaking ability, he has appeared in both starting and backup roles throughout his professional career.
Early Life and Background
Thompson-Robinson was born on November 14, 1999, in Columbia, South Carolina, while his mother was completing her doctorate at the University of South Carolina. His father is Michael Robinson, and his mother is Dr. Melva Thompson-Robinson, a public health professor at UNLV. He grew up with one brother and one sister in a family that valued education and athletics.
Thompson-Robinson attended Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he developed into a highly regarded quarterback prospect. As a senior, he passed for 3,275 yards and 38 touchdowns while also rushing for 426 yards and 7 touchdowns, earning a four-star recruit rating. His performance at the high school level attracted attention from major college programs across the country.
Following his standout high school career, Thompson-Robinson committed to play college football at the University of California, Los Angeles, choosing the Bruins over several other scholarship offers. His decision to attend UCLA set the stage for his transition to Division I football and ultimately his path to professional competition.
Path to American Football
Thompson-Robinson arrived at UCLA in 2018 as a freshman and saw action in ten games during his debut season. He took the first offensive snap in seven of those contests, demonstrating his readiness for college-level competition. In a notable early test against No. 10 Washington on October 6, 2018, he completed 27 of 38 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns. The following week against California, he posted an 86.6% completion percentage by completing 13 of 15 passes, ranking as the third-highest completion rate by a UCLA quarterback since 1980 in games with at least 15 attempts.
His sophomore season in 2019 marked his emergence as UCLA’s full-time starting quarterback. He started 11 of 12 games that season, missing the Oregon State contest due to injury. On September 21, 2019, he engineered a dramatic 67-63 comeback victory at No. 19 Washington State, throwing for 507 yards and five touchdowns while adding 57 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. His 564 total yards in that game established a UCLA single-game record for total offense. Thompson-Robinson continued his strong play against USC, generating 431 yards of total offense in the rivalry matchup, the second-most ever by a Bruin in the UCLA-USC series.
Throughout the 2019 season, Thompson-Robinson accumulated 2,701 passing yards and 198 rushing yards for a total of 2,899 yards of offense, ranking tenth all-time for a UCLA player in a single season. His 25 total touchdowns, comprising 21 passing and four rushing, also ranked tenth in UCLA single-season history, signaling his arrival as one of the conference’s top quarterbacks.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson Career
College Career (2018-2022)
The 2020 season presented unique challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic delayed and shortened the college football calendar. Thompson-Robinson met the circumstances with improved performance, completing 65.2% of his passes for 12 touchdowns and four interceptions while adding 306 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. In a December 12 matchup against No. 15 USC, he delivered an exceptional performance, completing 83.3% of his passes for 364 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions while contributing 50 rushing yards. His efforts earned him second-team All-Pac-12 recognition from conference coaches.
Thompson-Robinson returned to UCLA for the 2021 season and continued his upward trajectory. He finished the year with 2,409 passing yards and 21 passing touchdowns, ranking second in the conference in touchdown passes. His consistent excellence resulted in second-team all-conference honors from Pac-12 coaches and first-team All-Pac-12 recognition from the Associated Press, cementing his status as one of the premier quarterbacks in the conference.
For his fifth and final season in 2022, Thompson-Robinson took advantage of the NCAA’s COVID-19 eligibility waiver and returned for an additional year. In the season opener against Bowling Green, he demonstrated his dual-threat capabilities by completing 32 of 43 passes for 298 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while rushing for 87 yards and two touchdowns, including a 68-yard scoring run in the first quarter. His decision to return for a fifth season reflected his commitment to maximizing his collegiate development before turning professional.
Cleveland Browns (2023-2024)
Thompson-Robinson entered the 2023 NFL Draft and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round with the 140th overall pick. The Browns acquired the selection from the Los Angeles Rams in a trade involving cornerback Troy Hill. Thompson-Robinson made his preseason debut in the 2023 Hall of Fame Game, replacing backup quarterback Kellen Mond. Following a standout preseason performance, he secured the backup quarterback position behind starter Deshaun Watson, beating out both Mond and Joshua Dobbs for the role.
His first NFL start came on October 1, 2023, against the Baltimore Ravens when Watson was ruled out hours before kickoff due to a shoulder injury. Thompson-Robinson became the 35th starting quarterback for the Browns since the team’s 1999 return to the league. In that debut, he completed 19 of 36 passes for 121 yards and three interceptions as the Browns fell to the Ravens 28-3. He was benched in favor of P.J. Walker for the following game but returned to action in Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers after Watson sustained another injury. In that contest, he completed 24 of 43 passes for 165 yards and one interception, guiding the team to victory with a game-winning drive in the final moments.
During the 2023 season, Thompson-Robinson achieved his first career touchdown pass, a two-yard scoring strike to tight end Harrison Bryant in a game against the Denver Broncos. However, his progress was interrupted when he suffered a head injury from a late hit by Baron Browning that forced him from the game. He later placed on injured reserve on December 26 after sustaining a hip injury in garbage time of a game against the Houston Texans.
The 2024 season saw Thompson-Robinson begin as the third-string quarterback for the Browns. He first appeared in a regular-season game on October 20 after Deshaun Watson suffered an Achilles injury. Thompson-Robinson completed 11 of 24 passes for 82 yards and two interceptions before leaving with a finger injury. Following Jameis Winston’s three-interception performance against the Kansas City Chiefs, Thompson-Robinson was named the starter for the Browns’ game against the Cincinnati Bengals. In that start, he passed for 157 yards and rushed for 49 yards but threw two interceptions and was sacked five times in a 24-6 loss. He also started the following game against the Miami Dolphins, completing 24 of 47 passes for 170 yards with one interception, one fumble, and three intentional grounding penalties in a 20-3 defeat.
Driving Style and Strengths
Thompson-Robinson has established himself as a dynamic dual-threat quarterback capable of making plays both through the air and on the ground. His rushing ability has been a consistent weapon throughout his career, demonstrated by his ability to accumulate significant rushing yards in multiple games and his history of scoring touchdowns on the ground. His mobility allows him to extend plays and create opportunities when passing lanes close, though his small frame relative to traditional pocket quarterbacks requires careful navigation of the pocket to avoid heavy contact.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Thompson-Robinson’s most notable performances was his record-setting day against Washington State in 2019, when his 564 total yards of offense established a UCLA single-game record. His college career was highlighted by consistent recognition from the Pac-12, earning second-team all-conference honors twice and first-team All-Pac-12 honors once. His NFL journey has included the milestone of becoming the 35th starting quarterback in Browns franchise history and recording his first career touchdown pass in professional competition.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson Career Statistics
Thompson-Robinson has accumulated playing time across both college and professional competition, with his most extensive experience coming during his five seasons at UCLA where he started the majority of games across four seasons. His professional career includes appearances with the Cleveland Browns in the NFL and subsequently in the UFL with the Orlando Storm and Birmingham Stallions organizations.
College Highlights
At UCLA, Thompson-Robinson demonstrated consistent productivity over his five seasons from 2018 to 2022. His most prolific statistical season came in 2019 when he threw for 2,701 yards and 21 touchdowns while adding 198 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. He followed with a strong 2020 season despite the pandemic-shortened schedule, earning his first second-team All-Pac-12 recognition. His 2021 campaign featured 2,409 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, leading to first-team All-Pac-12 honors from the Associated Press and second-team recognition from conference coaches. Across his UCLA career, he accumulated thousands of passing yards and dozens of touchdowns while demonstrating consistent dual-threat capability.
Professional Statistics
In the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, Thompson-Robinson appeared in limited action across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. During his NFL tenure, he completed 121 of 230 passing attempts for 880 yards with one touchdown and ten interceptions, posting a passer rating of 45.2. His professional career later continued in the UFL with the Orlando Storm and Birmingham Stallions organizations.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson Family
Family Background
Thompson-Robinson was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, following his family’s relocation from South Carolina. His father is Michael Robinson and his mother is Dr. Melva Thompson-Robinson, who serves as a public health professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The family environment balanced athletic participation with strong academic expectations, as evidenced by his mother completing her doctoral studies while raising her children.
He has one brother and one sister, and the family has supported his football career throughout his progression from youth athletics through his professional career. His mother’s academic career at UNLV established roots in Nevada that facilitated Thompson-Robinson’s attendance at Bishop Gorman High School, one of the nation’s premier high school football programs.
Personal Life
Beyond his athletic pursuits, Thompson-Robinson has pursued higher education and maintained connections to his academic heritage. His mother Dr. Melva Thompson-Robinson’s career as a public health professor at UNLV reflects the family’s emphasis on academic achievement. Throughout his college career at UCLA, Thompson-Robinson balanced athletic demands with academic responsibilities while representing the university in Pacific-12 Conference competition. He continues to pursue professional football opportunities while maintaining ties to his family and his roots in both South Carolina and Nevada.
2025 Season Outlook
Thompson-Robinson’s career trajectory continues to evolve as he enters the 2025 season seeking expanded opportunities. Following his tenure with the Cleveland Browns, he has demonstrated resilience by continuing to pursue professional football at the highest available levels. His dual-threat capabilities and experience starting games in the NFL provide him with a foundation for competition at whatever level he finds opportunity. The 2025 season presents an opportunity for Thompson-Robinson to showcase his development and potentially secure a more prominent role within an organization. His mobility, playmaking instincts, and experience in high-pressure situations remain valuable assets as he competes for positioning on an NFL roster or alternative professional football league.