He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and professionally for the Green Bay Packers and the Washington Redskins.
[8] In 1962, during his senior year, Robinson led Penn State to a 9–1 regular- season, made 17 receptions for 178 yards and was named a first-team All-America by the Associated Press, NEA, Football Writers (Look), Post and Time magazines.
The first-team All-East choice also was named the nation's top collegiate lineman by the Philadelphia Sportswriters.
The Chargers had a financial package of $38,000 for Robinson but ran out of money and were going to trade his AFL rights to the Buffalo Bills.
Robinson's fiancée (and future wife) Elaine had been to Buffalo and knew how cold it was there, but had never been to Green Bay.
After backing up incumbent Dan Currie during his rookie season, Robinson became the starting left side linebacker for the Packers and remained in that role through 1972.
Alongside the immortal MLB Ray Nitschke and Pro Bowler Lee Roy Caffey, the three formed one of the best starting units of linebackers in NFL history.
He intercepted 21 passes as a Packer, including five in 1966, which tied cornerback Bob Jeter for the team lead.
Robinson played on two Super Bowl Championship teams, and won a total of three NFL titles with the Packers (1965, 1966, 1967).
Robinson concluded his career with the Washington Redskins in 1973 and 1974, playing under another future Hall of Fame head coach in George Allen.
On October 14, 1973, Robinson returned one of those four interceptions 28 yards for the only touchdown of his career during a 21–3 Redskins win over the New York Giants.
During his career, he had worked in the off-season as an engineer at Campbell's Soup in Camden, New Jersey through 1967 and then for Schlitz Brewery in Milwaukee.
Robinson was the sixth Nittany Lion in history of the program to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
[20] Robinson and Royce Boyles co-authored The Lombardi Legacy: Thirty People Who Were Touched By Greatness.
But, after two months spending a lot of time in the hospital, the doctors gave Robinson news that he was cancer free and did not have to receive chemotherapy.