Bears teammates, coaches, executives and staffers often speak first about Robinson the person before Robinson the player. If Robinson has an ego, he sure hasn't shown it inside Halas Hall.
"He means a lot to this team," receiver Anthony Miller said. "He's one of those leaders that we need on this team. He's not very vocal, but he does it a lot through his actions. A lot of people pay attention to that. He leads through example.
"He's a great guy to look up to."
The Bears recognize the importance of Robinson to their future, and it's why general manager Ryan Pace has openly expressed his desire to reach a long-term extension with Robinson, who's a crucial figure in the locker room and one of the most indispensable players on the roster.
Robinson, who turns 27 on Aug. 24, recorded 98 receptions for 1,147 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019. He has one season left on his contract.
So, is the clock ticking to reach an extension before the regular season?
"I'm not really too focused on that right now," Robinson said Friday. "My main focus is on camp. We have a game in about a month.
"My main focus is for Week 1. Whatever happens with it happens."
Pace prefers to conduct business before the regular season gets going. In past years under Pace's watch, the Bears have signed offensive lineman Cody Whitehair, nose tackle Eddie Goldman, defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, offensive lineman Charles Leno Jr. and offensive lineman Kyle Long to contract extensions right before the start of Week 1 practices.
It could mean that Sept. 6 is a soft deadline of sorts for the Bears and Robinson to reach an extension, with that date one week shy of Chicago's opener at Detroit on Sept. 13. Of course, a new deal could also be reached after the 2020 season -- the Bears locked in safety Eddie Jackson this past Jan. 3, just days after their season ended -- but it would be a considerable risk for both parties waiting until that point. Robinson would be relying on good health, and the Bears would be concerned he could choose to move on.
Despite the looming uncertainty of how NFL finances will be affected by the coronavirus pandemic, Pace is confident the Bears can conduct business as usual.
"I just have a lot of confidence in (Bears lead negotiator) Joey Laine and myself and how we're forecasting and how we're predicting for the future," Pace said in July. "I'm confident we'll work through it. It's not going to prevent us from doing the things that we want to do."
At a bargaining table filled by Pace and Robinson's agent, Roosevelt Barnes of Independent Sports & Entertainment, the key player will be Laine. It's his task to navigate through the financial uncertainty that lies ahead as it relates to the Bears' salary cap situation, ensuring the team has enough projected revenue to secure its core.
The Bears have a little more than $11 million available in cap space for 2020, according to NFLPA reports. They must balance contracts on the roster with decisions ahead at the quarterback position -- whether that's an extension for Mitchell Trubisky, who's entering the final year of his rookie deal, or signing a veteran on the open market in 2021.
But Robinson is the clear priority. He's a terrific talent who rose above the Bears' poor offensive play in 2019, producing a stellar season that proved his place among the NFL's best receivers.
Robinson is still in his prime as he enters his seventh NFL season. He could hit the open market next spring and earn top dollar away from Chicago. Robinson could also land with a top-tier quarterback for the first time in his career, though he has been one of Trubisky's top defenders during his struggles.
That's what a team player does and is part of why Robinson is revered by the Bears. The time to lock him in long term is here.