Bijan Robinson Has a Secret Weapon. It’s Not What You Think.

BIJAN ROBINSON DOESN’T lack confidence. The Atlanta Falcons running back has been one of the best players at his position even before his days in the NFL, when he was a top back at the University of Texas and a number one-rated recruit going into college. He’s not afraid to show it, either. “If you know me, [you know] I smile a lot,” he tells Men’s Health.As much as he has depended on his smile to project his self-assurance, Robinson didn’t always feel the best about his teeth. He recalls some slightly awkward stages in his younger years. “When I was a kid, more middle school, I was still kind of growing into my teeth,” he says. “I had two teeth that would kind of twist in a little bit.”For lots of guys, the state of their smile is a huge concern. But Robinson didn’t want to go through the trouble of getting braces to address the issue. “I was still trying to avoid having a wire on my teeth, because I thought that it would limit me from eating certain things, trying to keep it straight.” Robinson grew into his smile, and didn’t worry as much about his teeth as he became one of the most celebrated football players in the country.But when he eventually entered the NFL, he realized how a small fix could make a big difference for his professional image. Robinson partnered with Invisalign and began wearing the clear aligners to straighten out that little twist in his smile.“You're in front of a camera a lot in interviews and even just talking to people [at] events,” he says. “Having [my] smile is not only a confidence booster for myself, but the other I'm talking to—it makes them more engaged in the conversation. They see you take care of yourself.”Robinson says he wears the aligners everywhere—even with his helmet on in practice and in games. He says a traditional mouthguard makes it difficult for him to breathe, and his conditioning is what gives him an edge as a back who can score out of the backfield as a runner and receiver. (Invisalign reps clarified it should not be used as a mouthguard).Overall, Robinson appreciates how he’s able to make his oral health another aspect of the self-discipline and self-improvement practices that have helped him to be such a standout player. Like his workouts and skill-position drills, he takes it seriously. His smile is also his responsibility. “I'm not only representing myself,” he says. “I'm representing the Falcons, my family—everybody.”Brett Williams, NASM-CPT, PES, a senior editor at Men's Health, is a certified trainer and former pro football player and tech reporter. You can find his work elsewhere at Mashable, Thrillist, and other outlets.