Since their 1966 debut, the Falcons have produced franchise quarterbacks, record-setting receivers, and Hall of Fame defenders across six decades. Ranking the greatest Atlanta Falcons players of all time means weighing an MVP passer, one of the most explosive wideouts in NFL history, shutdown corners, and the iron men who anchored the trenches. Here is our ranked list of the legends who defined the Dirty Birds.
1. Matt Ryan (QB · 2008-2021)
The face of the franchise for 14 seasons, Ryan is Atlanta's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. He won NFL MVP in 2016 while leading the Falcons to their second Super Bowl appearance. Steady, durable, and productive, no player started more games under center for the Falcons.
2. Julio Jones (WR · 2011-2020)
One of the most physically dominant receivers the game has seen, Jones is the Falcons' franchise leader in receiving yards and receptions. A seven-time Pro Bowler, he averaged better than 95 receiving yards per game during his Atlanta tenure and assembled one of the great six-season peaks in league history.
3. Deion Sanders (CB · 1989-1993)
Drafted fifth overall in 1989, 'Prime Time' electrified Atlanta as a lockdown corner and return man. He earned three Pro Bowl nods and three first-team All-Pro selections in five seasons with the Falcons before a Hall of Fame career carried him to Canton.
4. Tony Gonzalez (TE · 2009-2013)
The most accomplished tight end of his generation finished his career in Atlanta as a five-time Pro Bowler for the Falcons. A reliable safety valve and red-zone weapon, Gonzalez helped lead the 2012 team within a play of the Super Bowl and was later enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
5. Claude Humphrey (DE · 1968-1978)
Atlanta's defensive cornerstone for more than a decade, Humphrey won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1968 and made six Pro Bowls with the Falcons. A relentless edge rusher who terrorized quarterbacks in the pre-sack era, he earned his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
6. Tommy Nobis (LB · 1966-1976)
The Falcons' very first draft pick, 'Mr. Falcon' won Rookie of the Year in 1966 and became the heart of the early defenses. A five-time Pro Bowler and ferocious tackler, Nobis defined the franchise's identity in its formative seasons.
7. Mike Kenn (OT · 1978-1994)
An iron man who started all 251 of his games at left tackle, Kenn spent his entire 17-year career protecting Atlanta quarterbacks. The five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro is one of the most durable and decorated linemen in franchise history.
8. Roddy White (WR · 2005-2015)
Before Julio Jones, White was the Falcons' premier receiver, posting four straight 1,000-yard seasons and earning four Pro Bowl selections. He remains second on the franchise's all-time receiving lists and was Matt Ryan's most trusted target for years.
9. Steve Bartkowski (QB · 1975-1985)
The first overall pick in 1975, Bartkowski became the early face of the franchise and led Atlanta to its first playoff win. A two-time Pro Bowler with a powerful arm, he held the Falcons' major passing records for two decades.
10. Warrick Dunn (RB · 2002-2007)
A dynamic dual-threat back, Dunn topped 1,000 rushing yards three times in Atlanta and made a Pro Bowl during his Falcons tenure. As versatile out of the backfield as he was as a receiver, he was a centerpiece of the early-2000s offenses and is the franchise's second-leading rusher.
Honorable Mentions
Jessie Tuggle (Hard-hitting tackling machine at linebacker), Jamal Anderson (Powered the 1998 Super Bowl run), John Abraham (Prolific edge rusher, franchise sack leader), Gerald Riggs (1980s workhorse and former rushing leader), William Andrews (Bruising Pro Bowl back of the early 1980s), Grady Jackson (Anchored the defensive line in the 2000s), Alex Mack (All-Pro center of the 2016 Super Bowl team), Devin Hester (Record-setting return specialist)
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