EAGAN, Minn. – The first time Jonathan Greenard met Gerald Robinson, he thought there might be something special about him.
Greenard had just settled in as a freshman at Louisville and had wandered downstairs to hang with his friend 'GG' Robinson, a fellow incoming freshman, while his family helped set up his dorm room.
"Move-in day was where I first met 'Big Gerald,' 'Papa Gerald,' " recalled Greenard. "I'm looking at him and I'm like, 'Man, your dad kinda got some size.' "
Greenard and GG Robinson had bonded early on as fellow Georgia natives on the Louisville football team, but it wasn't until that day that Greenard came to realize GG's father had quite the football résumé himself.
Gerald Robinson had played for Auburn, where he became the Tigers all-time sacks leader with 26 quarterback takedowns. He later went on to be selected 14th overall by the Vikings in the 1986 NFL Draft. Robinson played two seasons for Minnesota before joining the Chargers and Rams for two and three seasons, respectively.
"When I found that out I was just like, 'OK, Bro, that's big time,' " Greenard said. "Anytime you get drafted, period. But as a first rounder and to have all the accolades he had, it was an amazing honor to meet him."
Greenard found the Robinson family easy to form a connection with, and he quickly grew close with Gerald and his wife Melissa.
"Jon called my wife 'Mom' and he called me 'Pops.' We just developed that relationship, and he just gravitated to us," Robinson said during Vikings Legends Weekend. "His family is wonderful, as well, and we all just became like family."
Greenard, who lost his father in 2014, appreciated guidance from his stepdad Washington but also from Robinson as another father figure in his life – especially when it came to Greenard's football journey and setting his sights on the NFL.
Robinson still remembers the first time he watched Greenard play for Louisville.
"I told my son, the first time I saw Jon rush the passer, I said, 'That dude's got first-round potential.' He could really rush the passer," Robinson said. "And that's something you can't always teach. A lot of times, it's just in you."
Greenard didn't find out until years later that Robinson knew from the get-go he'd make it to the pro level.
"He didn't tell me those things at the time – he probably didn't know how I'd react to it," Greenard laughed. "But when I got to this point and we're talking ball, and he's saying these things … I was just so honored. He's been there, done it before."
Greenard picked Robinson's brain whenever he could – about the game, about defense and about the NFL.
"It's a different time, sure, but the game is still the same when it comes to the trenches, I believe," he said. "He's always been straight-up with me. Always been real about whatever it is.
"Listen – Pops isn't gonna sugarcoat anything. He's gonna say how it is, because from he's from Alabama," Greenard said, chuckling again. "And they're gonna tell you straight up down there. And that's what I'm used to, [being] from Georgia. Georgia, Alabama, you name it, we're all from the South. We don't sugarcoat."
Robinson values honesty and realism, but he also provided plenty of encouragement and expressed confidence in Greenard along the way.
When Greenard transferred to Florida to finish his collegiate career, he kept in touch with GG and Gerald from afar and continued pursuing his NFL goals.
When he was drafted 90th overall by Houston in 2020, the Robinsons were among the first to celebrate with him. They also were there to mourn with him and his mother, Carmen, when Washington passed away in 2021 due to complications of COVID-19.
Greenard holds the Robinsons close to his heart.
"They have always been a great second family, extended family," Greenard said. "They even show up for my mother. When she [published] her books, they often showed up to her events for support.
"GG was actually in my wedding [this spring], so they were there at the wedding, as well, one of the only sets of parents that I had invited," he added. "It just shows how near and dear they are to me."
When Greenard signed with the Vikings in March as a free agent, it felt like a full-circle moment for the outside linebacker to be joining the team that drafted Robinson nearly 40 years ago.
"He definitely told me to be prepared for that Minnesota weather. That was the first thing he told me about," Greenard quipped. "But man, when I did sign, he was definitely excited. Very, very happy for me, and genuinely just wanted me to succeed. And I think that's the main thing – no matter the money, whatever the situation, he's like, 'Look, I'm just glad you're playing ball in a place where you're gonna love the city, gonna love the fans, the support you get from there.'
"And it's been nothing short of that," Greenard added. "So anytime I get a chance to get pointers about the city, about where I need to go eat, yeah, he still knows about that stuff. So I love it. Love him to death."
The Vikings hosted more than a hundred alumni during Week 3 for their annual Legends Weekend, and Greenard smiled widely as he chatted with Robinson following the team's Saturday morning walk-through.
He and his wife Alta invited Gerald and Melissa to their home, where the Robinsons helped celebrate Rayna Greenard's first birthday.
"Whenever Pops gets in town … to see them, man, it's great," Greenard said. "Gerald just is an amazing guy. An amazing family. I can't say enough about them."
Greenard appreciated the opportunity to see Robinson reconnect with former teammates, including his 1986 draft classmate, Mike Slaton, who's remained a close friend. Greenard also feels even more grateful to be playing for an organization that so highly respects its Legends.
"It was amazing to see how they treat him, and all friends, past teammates," Greenard said.
Heading into Minnesota's game against Houston, he anticipated the matchup would hold extra meaning for Greenard as he faced his own former teammates.
"This is very special for Jon. His baby girl is turning 1, and he's playing against his former team? I would love to see him go out there and just have a big day," Robinson said, smiling.
His wish certainly came true.
Greenard made play after play against the Texans, racking up three sacks and later being named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
To do it all in front of Robinson only deepened the impact for Greenard.
"Gerald's an amazing guy, an amazing dad. For everything that he's given me and taught me … I can't thank him enough," he said. "I love the Robinsons, and they're always gonna have love from the Greenards."
