Story by
Copley grad Landon Robinson begins Bengals career armed with powerful cause
- Story by
- Copley grad Landon Robinson begins Bengals career armed with powerful cause
Landon Robinson called his mother with life-changing news last week while she was driving.
A Copley High School graduate, Robinson had just been told he made the Cincinnati Bengals 53-man roster, and the defensive tackle from the United States Naval Academy wanted to share the development with his proud mom, Patrice Robinson. But when the son and mother connected through FaceTime, it took a few seconds for Landon Robinson to spit out the positive update because tears of joy took control.
Advertisement
"I just really just let it all flow and really felt all the emotions of what just happened," Landon Robinson recently told the Beacon Journal by phone.
Watch Ohio High School Football Live on NFHS Network all year
It's fitting for Robinson to reach out to his mom before anyone else. They are in lockstep about the importance of Robinson maximizing his platform as an NFL player and using it for the greater good. In April, they created the Landon Robinson Foundation , a mental health advocacy organization designed to address youth suicide.
"We don't want to waste that opportunity, for sure," Patrice Robinson, the CEO and co-founder of the Landon Robinson Foundation, said during a recent phone interview. "We want to make sure that we are able to help people just by being a light. I have a spirit and Landon has a spirit of jovialness. It's easy to be around us, and I love that. I think that's a gift from God, and I don't take it lightly."
Advertisement
More NFL news: Bengals select Landon Robinson in seventh round of draft
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Landon Robinson (96) celebrates after breaking up a play in the second quarter of the NFL Preseason game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Detroit Lions at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026.
Here's the origin story of the Landon Robinson Foundation
Robinson was born in Columbus, but his family moved to Fairlawn when he was in second grade. He attended Fort Island Primary School, Copley-Fairlawn Middle School and Copley High School, where he graduated in 2021.
Robinson, 23, and his mother said several high school students died by suicide during Robinson's time at Copley. Then a U.S. Naval Academy midshipman took his own life during Robinson's senior season at Navy. Shortly thereafter, Robinson started discussions with his mom about how he could impact the community in a powerful way. Brainstorming steered them toward mental health issues affecting young people.
Advertisement
"I've seen people struggle with mental health," Robinson said. "I've seen people make bad decisions with their mental health. Obviously, it's something that's uncomfortable to talk about, but it's something that truly needs advocacy and needs people to be speaking about it in order for it to get better.
"Even before I got drafted, my mom and I were just talking about, 'What's a way that we can help the community and we can help people?' We came up with this foundation, which is advocating for mental health and doing events to spread that wellness and just help people out in the long run."
Copley High School graduate Landon Robinson gets ready for football practice during his high school days on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Copley, Ohio.
As Patrice Robinson spoke on a panel in Rochester, New York, she gained a greater understanding about why some parents don't want to discuss youth suicide.
Advertisement
"There's a stigma that's attached to that. There's a shame that's attached to that," she said. "There are some people, which I was surprised to learn, but I learned that some people don't want to talk about it because they feel like it will plant the seed in their children to do it."
More NFL coverage: Nick Chubb's former Cleveland Browns teammates react to his retirement
Landon Robinson #96, Navy Midshipmen (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The Robinsons aim to provide educational resources to families, and they have enlisted professionals who are qualified to spearhead the mission.
For example, Patrice Robinson's best friend, Arielle H. Sheftall, is the foundation's director of research and grant support. Landon Robinson calls Sheftall his "aunt" because of the Robinson family's close-knit relationship with Sheftall.
Advertisement
"Her research delved into the emotional side of things, the chemical brain makeup of these children, the social side, family, their environment and school and things of that nature," Patrice Robinson said. "... There was significant research that she did that showed that there are brain chemicals that shift at certain ages in a person's life and that when they're younger, they may exhibit some of these behaviors and some of these emotions, like depression or ADHD or so forth and so on, that if the parents could catch it young enough, they could change the trajectory of their child's life."
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Landon Robinson (96) runs drills during practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati.
A reserve Marine, Landon Robinson graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in cyber operations, and he is commissioned as a second lieutenant officer. He's well-rounded and realizes professional athletes carry a celebrity status. As an NFL player, he will likely be able to reach a larger audience than the average person.
"I've seen athletes have foundations and do things that can help people and all this stuff, but there were not too many people that really talk about the mental health side of things," said Robinson, who recalled Cavaliers legend Kevin Love speaking out on related issues.
Advertisement
In August, the Landon Robinson Foundation hosted a back-to-school movie night in Cincinnati. Monthly meetings with teenagers will begin later in September. Robinson envisions more community events, school visits and training sessions.
Detroit Lions quarterback Luke Altmyer (2) is brought down by Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Landon Robinson (96) in the second quarter of the NFL Preseason game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Detroit Lions at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026.
Landon Robinson makes Bengals roster as 2026 NFL season approaches
In the meantime, Robinson is preparing for his rookie season to begin in earnest. The Bengals are scheduled to open the upcoming season at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13.
Robinson's father, Lance Robinson, is a former Kent State University gymnast who grew up near Cincinnati and is a lifelong Bengals fan. Patrice Robinson said she started "screaming" and "crying" when her second of three sons revealed he had made an NFL roster.
Advertisement
A seventh-round draft pick (No. 226 overall), Robinson tied for first in sacks (four) and tied for second in pressures (10) in the NFL during the preseason, according to the statistics compiled by Pro Football Focus.
"I'm super excited to get started," Robinson said. "I think it's the beginning of a long, long career, and I'm just excited to learn and grow. Obviously, you want to get out there as soon as you can, and you're eager to go make plays, but it takes time in reality, especially as a younger player. You've got to learn and you've got to grow because it's a big jump from college to the NFL. So, I'm excited to learn. I'm excited to grow."
Copley High School graduate Landon Robinson goes through practice drills during his high school football career on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Copley, Ohio.
Cincinnati isn't the only part of the state waiting for Robinson's opportunity to arrive. His supporters in Northeast Ohio are eager, too.
Advertisement
"When my time comes to get out there and shine, then I'm going to take full grasp of it," Robinson said.
Off the field, Robinson will be able to pour himself into his foundation for however long his playing days last and beyond.
"Having something else that's greater than yourself is a great transition from a world that is full of glamor and lights and action," Patrice Robinson. "You have this other side of who you are, and that's what I try to tell Landon. It's like, 'You are a multifaceted person. You're not one-dimensional.'"
The Landon Robinson Foundation is proof.
Advertisement
If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com . On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Copley grad Landon Robinson begins Bengals career armed with powerful cause
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
