Jerry Robinson was tuned in. And he knew the deal: He was, in 1979, the last linebacker selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the NFL Draft.
In 1979. Forty-six years ago.
Until now.
When the Eagles selected Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell with the 31st pick in Thursday's first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, The Legend of Jerry Robinson surfaced again.
"It's pretty cool, man," Robinson said on a phone call the day after that first round. "I felt like the Miami Dolphins team, the undefeated team from 1972, sitting with the champagne bottles, when a team loses now. To be part of the history of the Philadelphia Eagles is just the honor for me.
"I'm happy for Jihaad. He's coming to a great defensive scheme, a great football city. Man, there is no place like Philadelphia. Vic Fangio is a great coordinator. They have some monsters on that defense. Jihaad's gonna have some of his brothers from the SEC out there. I'm so glad the Eagles got themselves a good one."
Robinson played his college football at UCLA, recruited by Dick Vermeil, and was a three-time consensus first-team All-American linebacker. A College Football Hall of Famer, Robinson was included in Sports Illustrated's All-Century College Football Team in 1999.
By 1979, Vermeil was the head coach of the Eagles. The Eagles selected Robinson No. 21 overall in that NFL Draft, and Robinson was part of the 1980 NFC Championship team that fell to Oakland in Super Bowl XV. Selected to the Pro Bowl in 1981, Robinson played through 1984 with the Eagles before finishing his 13-year NFL career with the Oakland Raiders from 1985-91.
"I remember that 1979 Draft, of course," Robinson said. "We didn't have ESPN then. We heard about it on the radio. Coach Vermeil called me and said, 'I can't believe you are still there (at 21).' I just fell in love with the Eagles fans. Loved the support. Always will love the Eagles and happy for anyone who plays in Philadelphia. It's a great place to play.
"The draft, man, it's the most stressful thing on the planet for the players because they don't know where they're going to go. I remember the New Orleans Saints told me they were going to take me at 11 and they ended up taking a punter (Russell Erxleben) and I ended up going 21st. A punter! Hey, it happens. It was so nerve-wracking, but it is the most exciting time of your life."
For his part, Campbell wasn't aware of the history. On Friday at the NovaCare Complex, Campbell was told that he was the first first-round linebacker taken by the Eagles since 1979 and he shook his head.
"I'm just learning about it," he said. "That's great with me. I like being part of history."
For Robinson, his dreams have been fulfilled and he's a happy fan living on the West Coast, cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles.
"I feel honored and I'm very happy that I was the last linebacker taken in the first round. That's cool with me," he said. "My dream came true the day I was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles. It lasted 46 years. That's not bad, man."
