Zac Robinson’s career has never followed the usual path. He wasn’t a star quarterback, didn’t spend years in the NFL spotlight, and never built his reputation through highlights.
Instead, his journey has been shaped by patience, learning, and staying connected to the game long after playing opportunities disappeared. Today, as an NFL offensive coordinator, his story reflects how persistence and preparation can matter more than early success.
Early Life
Zachary Ross Robinson was born on September 29, 1986, in Littleton, Colorado. Growing up in the Denver suburbs, he played multiple sports but football captured his heart early.
He attended Chatfield Senior High School in Littleton, where he played quarterback and wide receiver. His versatility showed even then—he could throw and catch, giving coaches options on how to use his athleticism.
As a senior, he threw for 1,475 yards and 15 touchdowns with six interceptions. That same season, he caught 39 passes for 850 yards and 11 touchdowns. Those dual-threat numbers made him interesting to college recruiters.
He initially committed to Kansas State. Then everything changed when Oklahoma State hired a new head coach named Mike Gundy, who happened to be a former Oklahoma State quarterback himself. Gundy made a hard push for Robinson, and at the last minute, he flipped his commitment to the Cowboys.
College Star at Oklahoma State
Robinson attended Oklahoma State from 2005-2009, playing quarterback under Mike Gundy. He redshirted his first year, then started for three seasons from 2007-2009.
Over his career, he accumulated 8,317 passing yards and 66 passing touchdowns, breaking Mike Gundy’s school record for career passing yards. For years, that record stood as one of Oklahoma State’s quarterback benchmarks.
His 2009 senior season started with huge expectations. He was viewed as one of the best senior quarterbacks in the preseason. The season began with a win over Georgia, where he threw for 135 yards and two touchdowns.
But injuries derailed what could have been his best year. He suffered a concussion and shoulder injury against Texas Tech when he collided with cornerback Jamar Wall. He also dealt with a hamstring injury during the season. The injuries limited his effectiveness, and he finished with 2,084 passing yards and 15 touchdowns—solid but below expectations.
The NFL Journey Nobody Saw
The New England Patriots selected Robinson in the seventh round, 250th overall, in the 2010 NFL Draft. Seventh-rounders rarely make rosters—they’re lottery tickets, not sure things.
He signed a four-year contract on July 21, 2010, but was released on September 4—before the season even started. Just like that, his Patriots career ended without throwing a single pass.
What followed was the NFL journeyman experience most fans never see. The Seattle Seahawks signed him to their practice squad on September 5, 2010. On November 6, he was activated to the 53-man roster as backup to Charlie Whitehurst for one game against the Giants. He was waived on November 8. Two days on an active roster, then back to unemployment.
The Detroit Lions claimed him off waivers on November 9, 2010. He was waived again on September 3, 2011. Another team, another release.
The Cincinnati Bengals signed him to their practice squad on September 6, 2011. He spent two years there, mostly on the practice squad. In 2012, he appeared in all four preseason games but was waived and re-signed to the practice squad.
His final NFL season came in 2013. He was placed on the physically unable to perform list on July 23 due to an elbow injury, then moved to reserve/PUP on August 26. He returned to practice November 18 but wasn’t activated by the December 9 deadline, ending his season on injured reserve.
On May 2, 2014, the Bengals waived him after he failed a physical related to ongoing elbow issues. At 27 years old, his playing career was over. Four NFL teams over four years. One regular-season appearance. Zero career statistics.
Most guys would be bitter. Robinson just started planning his next move.
Finding His Way Back
After retiring, he didn’t immediately jump into coaching. He tried other career paths first, showing the uncertainty many athletes face when football ends.
He did job shadowing at a commercial real estate company, exploring whether business could be his post-football life. It wasn’t. He realized quickly that he needed football in some capacity.
He joined The Quarterback Ranch in Dallas, training college and high school quarterbacks on mechanics, footwork, and decision-making. He worked with former Oklahoma State teammate Brandon Weeden and friend Andy Dalton when they needed extra work. He even designed former OSU quarterback Mason Rudolph’s Pro Day workout in March 2018.
The training work kept him in football, but it wasn’t enough. From 2016-2018, he worked at Pro Football Focus (PFF) as a senior analyst, evaluating quarterbacks through film study and performance metrics. At PFF, he had access to all NFL game film—perfect for someone who wanted to learn coaching without being on a staff yet.
He was training quarterback Easton Stick (later of the Los Angeles Chargers) when a connection to Sean McVay emerged. McVay interviewed him and hired him the next day. Just like that, at 32 years old, Robinson was an NFL coach.
The Sean McVay Years
On February 23, 2019, the Los Angeles Rams hired Robinson as assistant quarterbacks coach under head coach Sean McVay. He replaced Zac Taylor, who’d left to become Cincinnati’s head coach—ironic, given Robinson’s playing time with the Bengals.
McVay’s offensive system is complex and QB-centric. Robinson learned from one of the brightest offensive minds in football while working with Jared Goff.
In 2020, McVay switched Robinson to assistant wide receivers coach. Working with receivers gave him a different perspective on offensive football. He helped develop Cooper Kupp, who would become one of the NFL’s elite receivers.
In 2021, Robinson switched back to assistant quarterbacks coach after Liam Coen left for Kentucky. Now he was working with Matthew Stafford, who’d just been traded from Detroit.
The 2021 season ended with the Rams defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. Robinson got his Super Bowl ring—not as a player, but as a coach. Given his journeyman playing career, the ring probably meant more than if he’d won it as a backup quarterback.
For the 2022-2023 seasons, he was elevated to pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, giving him real authority over Los Angeles’ passing attack. He was no longer just an assistant—he was helping design the offense.
During the 2022 season, he worked with Baker Mayfield for five games after the Rams signed him mid-season. That brief relationship would matter later.
The Life-Changing Saturday
By January 2024, Robinson had become one of the NFL’s hottest coordinator candidates. Multiple teams wanted to interview him—the Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, and New Orleans Saints all showed interest.
Then Atlanta hired Raheem Morris as head coach. Morris had been the Rams’ defensive coordinator, working alongside Robinson. Morris wanted him as his offensive coordinator.
But there was a problem: Robinson’s wife Mia was very pregnant, with the due date approaching fast. The timing couldn’t have been worse—or better, depending on how you look at it.
On January 27, 2024, at 6:17 PM EST, Mia gave birth to their son Cooper. According to NFL Network’s Peter Schrager, twenty minutes later at 6:37 PM, Robinson accepted Atlanta’s offer to become their offensive coordinator.
Robinson later admitted: “My wife was still there with the doctor but this was moving so fast… I was in there with the doctors and everything going on conducting business. I’ll probably never hear the end of that”.
In those twenty chaotic minutes, his family grew, his job changed, and his living location shifted from Los Angeles to Atlanta. Quite a Saturday.
Marriage and Family Life
Zac has been married to Mia Robinson for several years, though the exact wedding date isn’t publicly available. Mia keeps an extremely low profile—she rarely appears on social media or at public events.
Mia is the niece of someone named Bob, but beyond that, details about her family background, siblings, and education remain private. She’s chosen to stay out of the spotlight despite being married to an increasingly prominent NFL coach.
Their first child, daughter Madi (full name Madelyn June Robinson), was born during his time with the Rams. Then came son Cooper, born January 27, 2024—the same day he accepted the Falcons job.
The family reportedly resides in the greater Atlanta area as of early 2024, though with his new Tampa Bay hiring in January 2026, they’ll likely be relocating to Florida soon.
Robinson rarely posts about his family on social media. When he does, it’s usually just photos from football events rather than personal moments. This privacy approach seems mutual—Mia prefers staying out of public view, and he respects that boundary.
The Atlanta Falcons Chapter
Robinson took over a Falcons offense that ranked 17th in total yards, 26th in points, 22nd in passing yards, and 9th in rushing yards in 2023. The challenge was clear: make this offense better.
His first major decision came at quarterback. When asked about the position, Robinson said: “All options are on the table”. The Falcons ended up drafting Michael Penix Jr. and signing Kirk Cousins, creating a complicated quarterback situation.
The 2024 season didn’t go as planned. The Falcons compiled an 8-9 record under Robinson’s offensive coordination. The offense showed moments of promise but inconsistency plagued them throughout the year.
According to Pro Football Reference, his overall record as offensive coordinator stands at 16-18 over two seasons with Atlanta (2024-2025).
After the 2025 season ended, Atlanta made changes. Robinson became available again, and this time, Tampa Bay came calling.
The Tampa Bay Opportunity
On January 22, 2026, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finalized a deal to hire Robinson as their offensive coordinator. The timing was perfect—he was reuniting with Baker Mayfield, the quarterback he’d briefly coached in Los Angeles in 2022.
According to ESPN‘s reporting at , this hire brings Robinson to a team with a veteran quarterback, talented receivers, and playoff aspirations.
Tampa Bay represents another fresh start, another chance to prove his offensive system works. At 39 years old, he’s young for a coordinator but experienced enough to handle the pressure.
Coaching Philosophy and Style
Robinson’s offensive approach comes from the Sean McVay/Rams tree—motion, play-action, creating mismatches, and getting receivers open through scheme rather than just talent.
He values quarterback development above almost everything else, probably because of his own playing experience. He knows what quarterbacks go through, the mental challenges beyond just physical skills.
His calm demeanor on the sideline reflects his personality. He’s not a screamer or a headset-thrower. He makes adjustments, communicates clearly, and trusts his preparation.
Players who’ve worked with him describe him as approachable and detail-oriented. He’ll watch film for hours, finding small details that create advantages. That work ethic comes from his playing days when he had to outwork more talented players just to stay on rosters.
Physical Presence and Appearance
Robinson is 6-foot-3 and weighed 218 pounds during his playing days. He’s maintained a relatively similar build in coaching, staying in good shape despite spending most of his time now in meeting rooms rather than on fields.
He typically wears team-issued coaching gear—polos, quarter-zips, and headsets on the sideline. Nothing flashy, just professional and focused on the job.
His presence is calm and measured. On the sideline during games, he’s often seen talking to quarterbacks with a clipboard, making adjustments between series. He doesn’t panic when things go wrong—his years as a backup taught him patience.
Net Worth and Financial Reality
Zac Robinson’s financial position comes primarily from his work as an NFL coach rather than his short playing career. While exact coaching salaries are rarely disclosed publicly, league-wide reporting shows that NFL offensive coordinators generally earn between $1 million and $3 million per year, depending on experience and team structure. As a relatively young coordinator who has held the role with both the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Robinson is believed to fall within this range.
According to ESPN, coordinator contracts are negotiated internally and are not capped, which places experienced coordinators among the higher-paid assistant coaches in the league. Robinson’s steady rise through the Los Angeles Rams staff and subsequent coordinator roles suggests long-term financial stability rather than sudden wealth.
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