Falcons football logo
Falcons football logo (Photo by WhoopieWhoopie on Shutterstock)
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5 Legendary Falcon Players Who Changed Sports History, According To NFL Experts

January 8, 2024
by Matthew Sherdan

Atlanta is truly one of the greatest sports cities in the world. The city has some iconic professional sports teams, from the Braves to the Falcons to the Hawks. The Falcons officially joined the National Football League (NFL) and started playing football in Atlanta in 1966. By 1971, the Falcons had their first winning season in franchise history. Fans of the Atlanta Falcons have seen some amazing athletes come through the organization, but only a few can be called the best Falcons players of all time. 

Speaking of players coming up through an organization, a recent study found that fans prefer championship teams comprised of homegrown talent instead of teams stacked with pricey free agents. Researchers at the University of Kansas surveyed 1,500 Americans. They discovered that sports fans prefer championship teams comprised of drafted or “homegrown” players as opposed to teams with rosters comprised of expensive free-agent players. Apparently, sports fans appreciate the hard work and dedication it takes to build a championship team from the ground up. 

Regardless of how your favorite team’s roster is constructed, a recent study found that simply getting out and attending live sporting events can boost your mental health as much as getting a job. A survey out of England found that respondents who recently attended a live sporting event – professional or otherwise – scored better in terms of ‘life satisfaction’ than those who had not recently been to a game. The survey of 7,000 adults is the first of its kind to examine the mental health benefits of attending sporting events. Overall, sports fans claim that watching live events makes them feel more “worthwhile” and leaves them feeling satisfied. A boost in mental health is certainly a great reason to get down to Georgia for a Falcons game in the near future. 

So, which players are considered legends in Atlanta Falcons franchise history? StudyFinds did the digging, consulting 10 sports and NFL-related websites in an effort to bring you a consensus list of the best Falcons players of all time. Our list comprises the five most frequently listed Falcons players from across these sites. Think one of your favorite all-time Falcons was snubbed? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below! 

NFL logo and a wall of footballs
NFL logo (Photo by Adrian Curiel on Unsplash)

The List: 5 Unforgettable Atlanta Falcons Players, Per Fans

1. Matt Ryan

Topping the list of the best players in Falcons franchise history is none other than quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan was the third overall draft pick of the Falcons in the 2008 NFL Draft and the former Boston College signal caller did not disappoint Falcons fans. “Matt Ryan gets the edge because he played longer and played the more important position. He really set a new standard for Falcons quarterbacks and became their first sustained, truly great franchise quarterback. He won OROY in the 2008 season, MVP and OPOY in the 2016 season, led the Falcons to their second Super Bowl, consistently led them to the playoffs without much help by way of defense or offensive line, and owns every franchise record when it comes to quarterback stats,” explains Blogging Dirty. 

Matt Ryan
(“Matt Ryan 2014” by Keith Allison is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.)

Ryan was drafted after the team was forced to move on from Michael Vick, another all-time great Falcons quarterback. Although Ryan played a completely different style of quarterback than Vick, he was able to find immediate success in Atlanta. From there, Ryan’s career took off, and he had his Falcons in constant playoff contention. “In 2010, Ryan led Atlanta to a division title as the team finished the regular season with a 13-3 record. That year, the third-year quarterback threw for 3,705 yards, 28 touchdowns and generated a 62.5% completion rate to earn his way into the Pro Bowl. After the 2010-’11 season came to a close, Ryan went on a tear as he would never throw for under 4,000 yards in a single season again until 2021-22, a season in which he was just 32 yards shy. The 2011-’12 season also saw a historical moment for the Atlanta Falcons – the first time in franchise history the team reached the playoffs in back-to-back seasons,” furthers Back Sports Page. 

After back-to-back playoff appearances and multiple 4,000-yard passing seasons, Ryan put the Falcons in the Super Bowl discussion every season. It took a few years, but Ryan eventually broke all the way out and earned his first and only MVP award in 2016. It just so happened that Ryan also led the Falcons to the Super Bowl that season. Although the Falcons weren’t able to seal the deal and the team lost the Super Bowl to the greatest quarterback of all time Tom Brady, Ryan’s legacy in Atlanta is unmatched. “His best year came in 2016 when he became the league’s Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year. He also led the Falcons to their second Super Bowl trip but collapsed against the New England Patriots. The same year, he became a First Team All-Pro and league leader in passer rating. Ryan also became a four-time Pro Bowler during his time with the Falcons,” adds Rotoballer. 

2. Julio Jones

The second spot on the list of the best players in Falcons history belongs to Julio Jones. Jones was drafted in the top 10 of the 2011 NFL Draft and the Falcons actually traded up to snag the legendary receiver. “When Julio Jones hangs up his cleats he will be considered among the best wide receivers in NFL history. The Falcons coveted Jones ahead of the 2011 NFL Draft. The Alabama alum was a consensus Top-10 prospect and Atlanta made one of the most aggressive draft-day moves we’ve ever seen to ensure they got their man. Atlanta traded away five draft picks to the Dallas Cowboys to move up from 27th to 6th overall to select Jones,” writes The Sporting Blog. 

Julio Jones in his Falcons uniform
(“Julio Jones 2018” by Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.)

The Atlanta Falcons had transformed into one of the NFC’s top teams in the years before Jones’ arrival. However, the team simply couldn’t get past some of the more elite teams such as Green Bay and San Francisco.

That all changed when the Falcons drafted Jones. “Jones played ten seasons with the Falcons from 2011 to 2020. He caught 848 passes for 12,896 yards and 60 touchdowns. He received five All-Pro honors with two first-team and three second-team selections. He made seven Pro Bowls in his career, all with the Falcons,” explains Rookie Road. 

Jones is easily the best wide receiver the Falcons have ever had. Jones’s talent and big play ability were never more apparent than during the 2015 NFL season when the receiver set team records. “The former Alabama wideout is a two-time first-team all-pro (’15-’16), three-time second-team all-pro (’17-’19) and a two-time receiving yards leader (’15-’18). Jones’s best statical season came in 2015 when he garnered 136 catches (led the league) with 1,871 receiving yards (led the league). Jones is without question the best wide receiver the franchise has ever had and also one of the greatest pass catchers the NFL has ever seen,” adds The Game Haus. 

3. Michael Vick

It’s safe to say that the NFL universe has never seen anything like Michael Vick at the quarterback position, and we may never see anything like him again. “Vick was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft by the Falcons. When Vick was on the field, anything could happen, and no one dared take their eyes off of him. During his time with the Falcons he threw for 11,505 yards, and as impressive as his arm was, he mostly was known for his legs. He rushed for 3,859 yards, running away from many defenders. It’s disappointing what happened because if he would have stayed with the Falcons, he probably could have moved up at least a couple of spots on this list,” writes Clutch Points. 

Vick was simply faster, quicker, and more agile than the defenders assigned to stop him. However, Vick was nearly unbeatable during his college career as well, so it wasn’t that much of a surprise. Surprisingly, Vick didn’t play much during his rookie season, and it wasn’t until his second year in the NFL that he broke out as one of the top running quarterbacks of all time. “Perhaps the most electric player Atlanta sports has ever seen, Michael Vick was an absolute problem for NFL defenses during his five-year tenure in a Falcons uniform. No matter the situation, the dual-threat quarterback could make it happen. Drafted as the first pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, the former Virginia Tech Hokie quickly became the talk of Atlanta due to his immense athleticism, supersonic speed and flowing mobility. In just his second season, Vick started all but one game for Atlanta where he threw for 2,936 yards with 16 touchdowns and rushed for 777 yards with eight touchdowns,” explains Back Sports Page. 

Vick redefined the way NFL teams viewed running quarterbacks. But, Vick wasn’t just a flashy runner, he could play quarterback with the best of them and he was also a winner. Vick led his Falcons to the playoffs and became the first quarterback to win a road playoff game at Lambeau Field – home of the Green Bay Packers.

Vick went into Lambeau and outplayed the great Bret Favre, solidifying his place as one of the top quarterbacks in the league. “The Falcons had to trade up with the San Diego Chargers to get Vick as the top overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. He ushered in the era of the mobile quarterback that is prevalent nowadays. Vick earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2002, finishing fourth in the voting for NFL Most Valuable Player. He made two more Pro Bowl selections during his time in Atlanta,” adds Rotoballer. 

4. Jeff Van Note

Jeff Van Note played various positions during his college career, but legendary Falcons coach Norm Van Brocklin decided to move him to center. The move paid off and Van Note went on to have a stellar career in Atlanta. “Van Note anchored the center of the offensive line for the Falcons for almost two decades. His 18-year career solely with the Falcons is the second longest in NFL history with a single team. Despite being drafted in the 11th round and his relative unfamiliarity with the center position, he established himself as one of the best and most durable centers of all time,” explains Fueled by Sports. 

Van Note was the model of consistency during his playing career in Atlanta. The six-time Pro Bowl center might not have been a high draft pick, but that didn’t stop Van Note from making his presence felt across the NFL. “Jeff Van Note played a jaw-dropping 18 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and only the Atlanta Falcons. That equated to 246 games which is the second most in franchise history. Van Note also made six Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams—not bad for an 11th-round pick,” furthers Blogging Dirty. 

The NFL Draft used to go upwards of 20 rounds, so there were some great NFL players to be had later in the draft. Van Note fell to the 11th round of the 1969 NFL Draft but the Falcons saw his potential as a natural football player and the rest is history. 

“Van Note played football in college for the University of Kentucky Wildcats. The Falcons stole him in the eleventh round of the 1969 draft. He manned the center position for 18 NFL seasons, all with the Falcons. He started 226 games, appearing in a total of 246. Van Note missed a total of four games throughout his entire career. He was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 1974, 1975, 1980, 1981, and 1982 seasons. After retiring, Van Note served as color commentator for Atlanta Falcon and University of Kentucky football broadcasts,” adds Bleacher Report. 

5. Deion Sanders

Rounding out the list of the best players in the history of the Atlanta Falcons is none other than Deion Sanders. Sanders, who is also affectionately known as Prime Time, is widely regarded as one of the best cornerbacks in NFL history and he’s a no-brainer for one of the best Falcons players ever. 

Sanders was a threat to score every time he touched the football, so the Falcons tried their best to get the ball in his hands. He “was the No. 5 overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Falcons. Sanders, who spent five seasons with Atlanta, was a three-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro selection as a cornerback, and a first-team All-Pro honoree as a kick returner with the team. During his time with the Falcons, Sanders had 24 interceptions, which included a career-high seven INTs in 1993, and three were returned for touchdowns. Sanders also had success elsewhere when he played for the San Francisco 49ers (1994) and Dallas Cowboys (1995-1999),” explains Fox News. 

As some of you might know, Sanders was also a great baseball player. On more than one occasion, Sanders would go from the football field to the baseball stadium on the same day, playing football in the afternoon and suiting up for the Braves in the evening. “Deion ‘Prime Time’ Sanders is one of the most electrifying athletes to step foot on an NFL field… ever. In the years since his retirement in 2005, Sanders has openly discussed his love for the city of Atlanta, where he played his first five seasons in the league for the Falcons. Not to mention his professional baseball career with the Atlanta Braves from 1991-1994. Sanders remains the only athlete to play in both a Super Bowl and MLB’s World Series. When it comes to football, Atlanta selected Sanders with the fifth overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft. In his very first game for Atlanta, despite bobbling a punt return, Sanders picked the ball up off the turf and returned it 68 yards for an electrifying touchdown,” furthers The Sporting Blog. 

Sanders has a case for being the greatest athlete in the history of professional sports in America, that’s how great he was. Sanders played in the Super Bowl and the World Series, and he’s still the only athlete to appear in both of those championships.

Still, Sanders changed the way America views the Atlanta Falcons, and he’s beyond deserving of being called one of the greatest Falcons players of all time. “After the 1991 season, Sanders would play two more Pro Bowl seasons in Atlanta, where he would come away with nine additional interceptions and four total touchdowns. While his career in Atlanta was rather short-lived, Sanders played a huge role in creating one of the most unapologetically arrogant and exciting teams in NFL history. Sanders, in the early 90s, was the city of Atlanta and everything it represented,” adds Back Sports Page. 

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