How Matthew McConaughey is helping NFL superstar Bijan Robinson fulfil his Hollywood acting dream

When he’s not starring in, directing or producing, actor Matthew McConaughey works as a professor of practice at his alma mater: the University of Texas at Austin.

He also spends a lot of time as a superfan of the school’s college football team, with the Texas Longhorns currently on the rise in recent seasons.

Over that time, he has been able to meet many of the stars in the sport who wear the burnt orange of Texas.

One of those was current Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson. But unlike the others who had “the eyes of Texas” on them, Robinson’s appreciation for McConaughey went beyond admiration for him as a celebrity: he wanted to learn from him.

When he’s not carrying the rock for the Falcons, Robinson emerges as an actor — he grew up with an interest in film and wants to get into the field himself.

The pair bonded and McConaughey has provided Robinson with guidance in his new roles in Disney Channel shows and hit Netflix dramas, among others.

While at school, he bonded with a certain professor: actor Matthew McConaughey

As a child, Robinson always dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. But his interest in acting grew around the same time.

“Obviously my love and joy is football. That is my passion. I feel like you can do so many other things too,” the Falcons star said told ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.

He added that growing up he was encouraged to give the profession a try: “People said, man, you should be an actor someday or something.

‘And I thought: I can see myself doing that. And when I went to college, I started learning and studying the craft.”

As a freshman, Robinson took the Fundamentals of Acting course, where he was able to quickly express himself on stage.

‘He was great. He asked really good questions and tried things,” teacher Barbara Chisholm remembers. ‘It is very vulnerable 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, whom he first met during a recruiting visit.

“That guy right there means everything,” Robinson revealed. “He was just a big brother to me.”

Robinson first met McConaughey during a 2019 visit to Texas before committing there

Robinson not only stood out on the Texas football field, but also in the classroom

McConaughey recalled hearing about Robinson’s curiosity with the craft and offered tips: “When I found out he was interested in acting and performing. I was like: performance, it’s about being able to behave honestly in front of the camera, and not acting in front of the camera. It’s behaving, doing what you do and letting the camera capture you. Those are real achievements.

“If he can be himself with the cameras on, with the 110,000 people watching, and the world’s eyes on us, that’s a hard and amazing thing to be able to do.”

After leaving college, Robinson began advertising, including his own mustard line.

That led to smaller roles and cameos in “Outer Banks” and the Disney Channel live-action show “Bunk’d.”

When it came to the final show, Robinson recalled, “Oh, it was so much fun. I’m in a room with all these other actors. When everything started, I think they expected me to be the athlete who was acting.

“But when I started going, they said, oh, wait a minute, he was actually pretty good at this. We started adding more lines and stuff. Keep adding myself to the show.”

McConaughey shared further advice: “Acting is about understanding what you need and overcoming the obstacles. Good acting is showing up on stage with a plan, but being off balance and then having to find your balance when you encounter obstacles and resistance. And then hopefully you get to where you want to go.”

Robinson says his goal is to eventually play a superhero role, saying, “One day I got to be this guy that everyone 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)

Although two years into his football career, Robinson is one of the best backs in the NFL

He’s been doing that week in and week out on the field for the Falcons.

It’s only his second year in the NFL, but Robinson currently ranks in the top ten in the league for rushing yards and is tied for 12th in rushing touchdowns.

His offensive performance helped get Atlanta to where they are today: 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 again this Sunday when the Falcons take on the high-flying Minnesota Vikings.