LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The hiatus is over. James Robinson isn’t just watching football from the couch anymore; he’s strapping the pads back on. The Rockford native and former 1,000-yard NFL rusher officially signed with the UFL’s Louisville Kings today, injecting serious horsepower into the expansion franchise’s backfield just weeks before their inaugural kickoff.
Robinson’s Road to Redemption
This isn’t a rookie trying to make a name; it’s a veteran trying to reclaim one. Robinson’s career hit the stratosphere in 2020 when he shattered records as an undrafted rookie for the Jacksonville Jaguars, racking up 1,414 scrimmage yards. He ran with a violence that made defenders think twice about tackling him. But the NFL is a cruel business. A ruptured Achilles in late 2021 derailed his momentum, leading to a carousel of short stints with the Jets, Packers, Giants, and most recently, a preseason cup of coffee with the New Orleans Saints in 2024.
Now, at 27, Robinson lands in Louisville with a chip on his shoulder the size of Illinois. He joins a Kings running back room that already features Benny Snell, setting up a “Thunder and Thunder” duo that could punish UFL defenses accustomed to lighter, faster backs.
Homegrown Hero
For fans in the 815, this is the comeback story they’ve been waiting for. Robinson remains a legend at Rockford Lutheran, where he became the IHSA’s all-time king of rushing yards (9,045) and touchdowns (158). He didn’t stop there, stomping through defenses at Illinois State to become the Redbirds’ second all-time leading rusher. He has always been a bell cow. Now, the Louisville Kings are betting he still has that bell cow endurance.
“I’m done talking about what I did in 2020. That’s in the books. I’m here to show I can still lower the shoulder and move the pile right now. Louisville gave me the call, and I’m ready to answer. I missed the contact. I missed the grind. We’re going to run the rock, plain and simple.”
— James Robinson, Louisville Kings RB
Kickoff Countdown
The runway is short. Robinson and the Kings open their season on Friday, March 27, against the defending powerhouse Birmingham Stallions. This isn’t a quiet debut; the game hits national airwaves on the FOX Network at 7 p.m. CT. For the loyalists back home, that’s FOX 39. The Kings are looking to make a statement in their first-ever game, and handing the ball to a guy who once out-rushed every rookie in the NFL seems like a solid strategy.