Duke cornerback Kimari Robinson apologised after broadcast footage showed him swatting the arm of a female athletic trainer who was trying to reach an injured teammate during a game against North Carolina on 17 October 2026.
The incident occurred in the third quarter of Duke's 24-20 home defeat in Durham, North Carolina. Robinson posted a public apology on X on 18 October, saying his concern for teammate DaShawn Stone did not justify how he treated the trainer.
This, @DukeFOOTBALL can’t happen. Check out the 7-9 second mark where the female athletic trainer tries to get the player hovering to move so she can help and he swings his arm at her. He needs to listen to her and know where he should be. If not where is the line? pic.twitter.com/o7VAg4fxlm
— Kevin Kelley (@coachkelley1) October 17, 2026
Trainer Attempts To Reach Injured Duke Player
Stone, a safety for Duke, was lying on his back on the field while medical staff attended to him. Robinson stood close to the injured player as another member of the training staff approached. The broadcast footage showed the trainer placing a hand on Robinson's shoulder, apparently attempting to move past him to reach Stone. Robinson then swatted the trainer's arm away and turned his attention back towards his teammate. The trainer continued towards the injured player.
The incident was captured during a stoppage in play and subsequently circulated on social media. A stretcher was brought onto the field, but Stone was later able to walk off without assistance. North Carolina went on to win the game 24-20. The clip of Robinson's contact with the trainer drew attention.
Robinson Apologises Publicly and Explains His Reaction
In his statement on X on 18 October, Robinson acknowledged that he had treated the staff member improperly. He wrote, 'I was completely wrong, and she did not deserve that'. Robinson said he had apologised to the trainer in person immediately after the game and checked whether she was all right. He described Stone as someone he considered family and said he had been frightened that his teammate might have suffered a serious injury.
He also acknowledged that concern for Stone was not an excuse for his response to the trainer. Robinson said he should have controlled his emotions and expressed regret for letting down the staff member, himself and Duke's football programme.
Former NFL Quarterback Among Those Criticising Robinson
Former NFL quarterback and football analyst Robert Griffin III criticised Robinson in a post on X after the footage circulated. Former Arkansas high school football coach Kevin Kelley also criticised the interaction.
Other social media users called for disciplinary measures, including suspension, while some pointed to Robinson's concern about Stone as context for the incident. Those responses were individual reactions to the footage, not a measure of wider public opinion.
Robinson's apology addressed both his conduct towards the trainer and his stated fear for Stone. His account did not dispute that he had swatted her arm away.
Duke Roster Confirms Both Players' Experience
Duke's official 2026 football roster lists Robinson as a redshirt junior cornerback from Miramar, Florida, and Stone as a redshirt junior safety from Asheville, North Carolina. Both players' university biographies record appearances for Duke across multiple seasons, including 2024 and 2025.
The two play in Duke's defensive backfield. Robinson's account of his close relationship with Stone was his own explanation for why he remained near the injured player during the medical stoppage.
As of 19 October 2026, no public announcement from Duke confirming a suspension or other disciplinary penalty had been identified. That does not establish whether the university has taken, or might take, any action internally.
Robinson's public statement followed the previous day's game and confirmed that he had spoken to the trainer after the incident. Duke's next scheduled game was against Virginia.
