Bijan Robinson Showed Up to Camp With a Shaved Head and One Long Dreadlock. The Internet Has Thoughts

July 30, 2026 · 5 min read

NFL camps are back in full swing, and the Falcons running back's dramatic new look is the haircut story of the week. Here's why players reach for a reset cut right before the grind starts, and how to bring the same energy into your own chair.

• Falcons running back Bijan Robinson reported to camp with a shaved head and a single long dreadlock standing straight up, a total departure from the long dreadlocks he wore during his 2023 rookie season.
• The side-by-side photo comparison went viral fast, with fans online joking he looked ready to grant three wishes, and the story quickly overshadowed talk of his ongoing contract extension conversations with Atlanta.
• Robinson's reveal landed in the same stretch every team in the league reports for camp, with veterans checking in league-wide from July 22 through July 28 this year.
• Every roster carries up to 90 players into camp before teams have to cut down to 53 by the August 30 deadline, which is exactly the kind of pressure that makes a clean reset cut feel worth it.

A Shaved Head, One Dreadlock, and a Very Online Reaction

Bijan Robinson's rookie-year photo showed a high haircut with long dreadlocks running down his back. His 2026 camp photo showed almost none of that hair left, just a shaved head with a single dreadlock left standing straight up like a ponytail. Posted side by side, the two images made the change look even more dramatic, and Falcons fans did not hold back once the pictures started circulating.

One reply that got passed around a lot compared him to a genie, joking, "looks like he's about to grant 3 wishes." Plenty of others piled on with their own cracks about the look. It was funny enough that it briefly buried the more serious storyline hanging over Robinson's camp: where things stand on a new contract with the Falcons after a rookie deal that is starting to look like a bargain.

Camp Season Means Reset Season

Robinson's new look landed right in the window when the rest of the league was reporting too. Veterans across all 32 teams checked in for camp between July 22 and July 28 this year, with the Cardinals and Panthers first fully on site ahead of their Hall of Fame Game matchup on August 6. By the time everyone is in pads, rosters can carry up to 90 players, a number every team has to trim down to the 53-man limit by the August 30 cutdown deadline.

That kind of pressure is part of why camp report day turns into an unofficial haircut day for so many players. Nobody needs a new cut to make a roster, but walking in looking like you already made one decision, loud or plain, is a small way to signal you are locked in before a single snap is played.

What Actually Survives Two-a-Days

A statement cut like Robinson's works fine for a photo, but most guys grinding through double practices, sweat, and a helmet every day need something that holds up without daily maintenance. Length and product are the first things to go once the real work starts, which is why shorter, low-fuss cuts tend to win out once camp settles into its routine.

A tight fade or a true buzz keeps hair off the neckline where helmet straps and sweat cause the most irritation, and it does not shift or flatten the way longer styles do under a hat or a helmet for hours at a stretch. It is the same logic that applies to anyone working outside or grinding through a physical job all summer, not just professional athletes.

What to Ask Your Barber Before Your Own Reset

You do not need a training camp on your calendar to want a fresh start. A new job, a return from time off, or just a long stretch of the same look are all good enough reasons to walk in and ask for something different. The trick is being specific: bring a photo if you have one, name a guard length if you know it, and tell your barber how much daily upkeep you actually want to deal with.

If you want something closer to Robinson's statement look, ask about a skin fade with length left on top instead of shaving everything down, since that gives you room to change your mind later. If you want the low-maintenance route most guys land on during a grind, a clean buzz or burst fade is the easier ask. Either way, book online through Squire or walk into Strange Times Barber Co in Summerlin and let your barber take it from there.

5 Cuts That Hold Up Under a Helmet (or a Vegas Summer)

You don't need shoulder pads to appreciate a cut that survives sweat, heat, and long days. These five hold up when things get demanding.

1. Burst Fade: Fades in a semicircle around the ear instead of straight back, keeping hair short where a helmet or a hat sits.
2. Edgar Cut: A straight, defined fringe with a tapered or faded side, clean without needing much daily styling.
3. Textured Crop: Short, choppy layers on top with a tapered side, low maintenance once the initial cut is dialed in.
4. High-and-Tight Buzz: Very short sides and back with a slightly longer top, about as close to zero upkeep as it gets.
5. Skin Fade Taper: A gradual fade down to skin around the ears and neckline, sharp for weeks between visits.

Frequently asked questions

Why did Bijan Robinson change his hairstyle before training camp?

He showed up to Falcons camp with a shaved head and a single long dreadlock, a dramatic shift from the long dreadlocks he wore as a rookie in 2023. No specific reason has been given beyond the timing lining up with camp report day.

Why do athletes get a new haircut right before training camp?

A fresh cut is one of the few things a player fully controls heading into a demanding, competitive stretch, and it works the same way for anyone starting a new job or a tough physical grind.

What haircut actually holds up best under a helmet or a hat?

Shorter, tighter cuts like a buzz, burst fade, or skin fade taper handle daily helmet and hat wear better than longer styles, since there is less hair to flatten, shift, or trap sweat.

How often should you get a trim during a physically demanding stretch?

Every two to three weeks for a short cut like a buzz or fade keeps the guard length even and the edges clean, which matters more when you are sweating through it daily.