TAMPA, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 29: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons in action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Who are the four greatest performers in the history of the Atlanta Falcons?
It’s a football franchise that began its on-the-field journey in 1966. The Atlanta Falcons began play four years before the AFL-NFL merger on the field and one year before New Orleans Saints joined the league. Those two teams make up one of the unsung rivalries in the NFL.
These days, the team is under the guidance of head coach Dan Quinn. He’s had an up-and-down tenure with the club since being hired in 2015. The club was in Super Bowl LI and came up short after owning a huge lead. A year later, the Falcons were back in the playoffs. The past two seasons have resulted in 7-9 finishes.
Historically, there have been some great players. Tight end Tony Gonzalez concluded his Hall of Fame career with this franchise, while wide receiver Roddy White made his mark. Talented running backs William Andrews and Jamal Anderson deserve a mention, as do longtime center Jeff Van Note and tackle Mike Kenn. On the other side of the ball, there is Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Claude Humphrey, and linebackers Keith Brooking and Jessie Tuggle.
So when it’s all said and done, who were the choices (in alphabetical order) when it came to the franchise’s four figureheads? A couple are still doing their thing in the NFL.