Falcons all-time team has a high-powered offense and balanced defense
Falcons all-time team has a high-powered offense and balanced defense
The Atlanta Falcons did not make the playoffs for the first 12 seasons and failed to get past the Division round for 32 years. The “Dirty Birds” finally broke through, beating the Vikings in overtime to reach Super Bowl XXXIII, where they lost to the Broncos. Atlanta also played in Super Bowl LI and built a 28-3 lead before the Patriots stormed back to win in the first overtime game in Super Bowl history.
The all-time roster features offensive stars from the past decade of success, as well as a balanced defense that includes two Hall of Famers.
Head Coach: Mike Smith led the Falcons to a 66-46 record and four playoff appearances in seven years. The club went an NFC-best 13-3 twice and reached the conference championship game in 2012, where they lost to the 49ers. Dan Reeves (49-59-1) guided Atlanta to a pair of postseason berths in six full seasons. In arguably the club’s best season, the Falcons went 14-2, edged San Francisco and then knocked off the 15-1 Vikings to reach Super Bowl XXXIII. Current coach Dan Quinn has a 36-28 record overall and led Atlanta to Super Bowl LI, where his team fell to the Patriots. Leeman Bennett (46-41) took the team to the playoffs three times in six years and also led them to their first postseason victory, 14-13 over of the Eagles in 1978. The year before, the Falcons held opponents to 9.2 points per game, the lowest per-game average in league history. Norm Van Brocklin, the Falcons’ second coach, finished with a 37-49-3 record in parts of seven seasons, including the team’s first winning record, a 9-5 mark in 1973.
Quarterback: Matt Ryan has thrown for 46,720 yards and 295 touchdowns, numbers that nearly double the next highest totals on each list. He threw for 4,944 yards and 38 scores in his 2016 league MVP, All-Pro and Super Bowl season. “Matty Ice” is a four-time Pro Bowler, the 2008 Offensive Rookie of the Year and has thrown for more than 4,000 yards in a season eight times. Steve Bartkowski made two Pro Bowls in 11 seasons in Atlanta. His 23,470 yards and 154 touchdowns are both second in team history, and he led the NFL with 31 scoring passes in 1980. Before going to jail for operating a dog fighting ring, Michael Vick was a three-time Pro Bowler. He also ranks sixth with 3,859 rushing yards. Chris Miller went to the Pro Bowl in 1991, one of his two seasons with 3,000 or more yards passing. Chris Chandler went to a pair of Pro Bowls and helped the team reach the NFC Championship Game in 2008.
Running Back: Gerald Riggs is the team’s all-time leading rusher with 6,631 yards and ranks second with 48 touchdowns. The three-time Pro Bowler had three 1,000-yard seasons, including 1985, when he ran for 1,719 yards. Michael Turner ranks first with 60 scores and second with 6,081 yards. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2008, when he ran for 1,699 yards and a franchise-record 17 scores. The “Burner” has three 1,000-yard seasons and played in the 2012 NFC Championship Game. Warrick Dunn ran for 5,981 yards and reached the 1,000-yard mark three times. He was the 2004 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award winner and made the Pro Bowl the following season. Jamal Anderson ran for 5,336 yards and 34 touchdowns in eight years. The originator of the “Dirty Bird” dance was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in the Super Bowl XXXIII season after rushing for a team single-season record 1,846 yards to go along with 14 scores. Current back Devonta Freeman is a two-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl LI participant who led the NFL with 11 touchdowns in 2015. Haskel Stanback ran for 25 touchdowns in six seasons, including six in 1977.
Fullback: William Andrews ranks third in team history with 5,986 yards along with 30 touchdowns. He is a four-time Pro Bowler with four 1,000-yards seasons, including 1,567 in 1983. Dave Hampton ran for 3,482 yards in five years. After missing most of 1974 with various injuries, he ran for 1,002 yards and was the Comeback Player of the Year.
Wide Receiver: Roddy White is the team’s all-time leader with 808 receptions, 10,863 yards, and 63 touchdowns. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and had six seasons with 1,000 or more yards. White’s 2010 All-Pro season included a league-leading 115 catches along with 1,389 yards and 10 scores. Julio Jones ranks second with 698 receptions and 10,731 yards and is fourth with 51 touchdowns. The six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro have six seasons with 1,000 or more yards. “Jet” played in Super Bowl LI and led the league with 136 catches and 1,871 yards in 2015. Terance Mathis is third in franchise history with 573 receptions and 7,349 yards and second with 57 scores. In his 1994 Pro Bowl season, Mathis had 111 catches and 11 touchdowns. Alfred Jenkins had 6,267 yards and 40 scores. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1981 after leading the NFL with 1,358 yards and 13 touchdowns. Andre “Bad Moon” Rison ranks fifth with 5,633 yards and third with 56 scores. He is a four-time Pro Bowler and a 1990 All-Pro who had four 1,000-yard seasons. Michael Haynes amassed 4,220 yards in six years, including 1,122 in 1991.
Tight End: Four-time Pro Bowler Alge Crumpler is tied for the top spot at the position with 35 touchdowns and ranks second with 316 receptions and 4,212 yards. Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez ranks first at the position (and fifth overall) with 409 catches, also has 35 scores and is third with 4,187 yards. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2012. Jim Mitchell is the position leader with 4,358 yards and made two Pro Bowls in 11 seasons. Junior Miller was a two-time Pro Bowler who made the All-Rookie Team in 1980. Austin Hooper played in Super Bowl LI and was a Pro Bowler in 2018.
Tackle: Mike Kenn was a five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. He was a member of the 1978 NFL All-Rookie Team and went on to play a team-record 251 games in 17 seasons. George Kunz made five Pro Bowls in six years in the early years of the franchise. Bob Whitfield was a Pro Bowler in the 1998 Super Bowl XXXIII season. He played 178 games in 12 years. Tyson Clabo was a Pro Bowler in 2010 and his last game with the team was the 2012 NFC Championship Game. Current left-side starter Jake Matthews is coming off a Pro Bowl appearance. Chris Hinton only played four seasons, but he was a Pro Bowler in 1991 and an All-Pro two years later.
Guard: Bill Fralic was a four-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro and a member of the 1985 All-Rookie Team. R. C. Thielemann was selected to three Pro Bowls, the 1977 All-Rookie Team and the 1982 All-Pro team. Justin Blalock played 125 games in eight years and started in the 2012 NFC Championship Game. Dave Scott (1970s), John Scully (’80s) and Robbie Tobeck (’90s) were all multiple-year starters on the left side.
Center: Jeff Van Note was a six-time Pro Bowler who ranks second in team history with 246 games played in 18 seasons. Current star Alex Mack has started all 48 games and made the Pro Bowl in each of his three years with the club. Todd McClure played 198 games in 13 seasons and appeared in two NFC Championship Games.
Defensive End: Hall of Famer Claude Humphrey was a six-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro and the 1968 Defensive Rookie of the Year. He played 127 games in 10 years and overcame a knee injury that cost him the 1975 season. John Abraham ranks first in team history with 24 forced fumbles and 68½ sacks, with 16½ in 2008. He was a 2010 Pro Bowler and appeared in the 2012 NFC Championship Game. Chuck Smith is second with 20 forced fumbles and 58½ sacks, including three seasons with 10 or more. He also ranks fifth among defensive players with 12 fumbles recovered. Patrick Kerney had 10 or more sacks three times and ranks third with 58 overall, including 13 in his 2014 Pro Bowl season. Brady Smith had 32 sacks, with eight coming in 2001. Lester Archambeau amassed 31 sacks, including 10 in the 1998 Super Bowl season. Mike Gann had 23½ sacks and 11 fumbles recovered in nine years.
Defensive Tackle: Travis Hall ranks fourth with 41½ sacks, including 10½ in 1997, and he played in Super Bowl XXXIII. Moe Gardner made the 1991 All-Rookie Team and ranks fifth with 420 solo tackles. Jonathan Babineaux played in 185 games over 12 seasons and appeared in Super Bowl LI. He had 27 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, 10 fumbles recovered and 393 tackles. Roderick Coleman had 30 sacks in just 49 games over four years. He had 11½ sacks in 2004 and 10½ more in his Pro Bowl 2005 season. Tony Casillas was a 1986 All-Rookie Team member who ranks fourth with 478 solo tackles. Mike Lewis played in 120 games and started for seven years in the 1970s.
Outside Linebacker: Greg Brezina has the franchise record with 14 fumble recoveries, including a league-leading five in his 1969 Pro Bowl season. He played 151 games and had 12 interceptions in 11 years. Vic Beasley played in Super Bowl LI and has split his time between defensive end and linebacker. He was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2016 after registering league highs with 15½ sacks and six fumbles recovered. Darion Conner ranks sixth with 405 tackles, including three seasons with 100 or more. He had 14 sacks, with seven coming in 1992. Michael Boley was a member of the 2005 Rookie Team and had 330 tackles. Fulton Kuykendall played in 123 games and recovered nine fumbles.
Middle/Inside Linebacker: Jessie Tuggle is the team’s all-time leader with 1,804 tackles, with nine seasons of 100 or more and four times leading the league. The five-time Pro Bowler also had 21 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, and 10 fumble recoveries. Keith Brooking is second with 1,128 tackles, including eight years with 100 or more. The Super Bowl XXXIII participant also went to five Pro Bowls and had 12 interceptions and 17 sacks. Tommy Nobis, an original Falcon, was selected to five Pro Bowls and the 1967 All-Pro team. He had 13 fumble recoveries and returned two of his 12 picks for scores. John Rade was a member of the 1983 All-Rookie Team and played in 122 games. Deion Jones played in Super Bowl LI, was a 2017 Pro Bowler and returned three interceptions for touchdowns. George “Buddy” Curry was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1980.
Cornerback: Hall of Famer Deion Sanders was a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro in five Atlanta seasons. “Prime Time,” had 24 interceptions and tied for the most in team history with three returned for touchdowns. Rolland Lawrence holds the team record with 39 picks, and he was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1977. Ray Buchanan tied for third with 30 interceptions, including seven in his 1998 Pro Bowl and Super Bowl season, and he also had 411 tackles. Ken Reaves, another original Falcon, had 29 picks and made the Pro Bowl in 1969. Bobby Butler is sixth with 27 interceptions and returned two fumbles for touchdowns. Desmond Trufant played in Super Bowl LI and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2015. DeAngelo Hall was a two-time Pro Bowler who had three fumble return touchdowns and 535 tackles. Brent Grimes made the Pro Bowl in 2010 and played in the 2012 NFC Championship Game.
Safety: Scott Case ranks third with 959 tackles, including four seasons with 100 or more. He tied for third with 30 interceptions while splitting time between right cornerback and free safety. Ray Brown is second in team history with 31 picks, with two returned for touchdowns. Thomas DeCoud and William Moore both appeared in the 2012 NFC Championship Game and made the Pro Bowl that year. Tom Pridemore had 21 interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries in eight seasons.
Kicker: Matt Bryant is the franchise leader with 1,122 points, including seven seasons with 100 or more. He was a Pro Bowler and led the league with 158 points in the 2016 Super Bowl season. Hall of Famer Morten Andersen played in Super Bowl XXXIII. He ranks second with 806 points, with 125 in his Pro Bowl and All-Pro season in 1995.
Punter: John James tops the team list with 873 punts and 35,633 yards, including eight seasons with 3,000 or more. The three-time Pro Bowler also led the NFL in punts and yards four times each. Matt Bosher’s 45.8-yard average is the highest in team history.
Returners: Allen Rossum is the club record-holder with 5,489 kick return and 1,723 punt return yards. The 2004 Pro Bowler had four seasons with 1,000 or more kickoff return yards and led the NFL with 545 punt return yards in 2003. Eric Weems was a 2010 Pro Bowler who ranks second with 3,724 kick return and 1,309 punt return yards. Sanders had 3,388 kickoff return yards and five total touchdowns, including a league-leading 1,067 kick return yards and two scores in 1992. Jerious Norwood had 3,084 kickoff return yards, with two seasons of 1,300 or more. Derrick Vaughn returned four kicks for touchdowns. Billy “White Shoes” Johnson had 1,251 punt return yards and was a Pro Bowler in 1983.
Special Teams: Elbert Shelley is arguably in the top five all-time at the position. The defensive back played in 119 games and made four Pro Bowls in 10 seasons.
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-By: Kevin Rakas