![]() ![]() Van Note would be the other choice here, with Tommy Nobis also earning an honorable mentioned. Van Note more than anyone else on this list would be pivotal to the team’s first real taste of success in the 70s and 80s. ![]() That would be Jeff Van Note, who played for the Falcons from 1969 to 1986, appearing in the second-most games in Falcons franchise history, earning recognition as the best center in team history (only Todd McClure has a legitimate case otherwise), and appearing in six Pro Bowls as a fixture on Atlanta’s offensive line. That’s all solid-to-good for a team that had some brutal draft classes when they were just starting out, but what truly sets this one apart is their 11th round pick at center. Hell, even 15th round safety Jim Weatherford was a one-year starter for the fledgling Falcons. Seventh rounder Dick Enderle started part of three seasons along the offensive line, and fellow seventh rounder Ted Cottrell was a useful reserve linebacker who went on to become a smart, innovative defensive coach in the NFL. Fourth round tight end Jim Mitchell was one of the better tight ends in team history, setting a rookie touchdown grab record that lasted until Calvin Ridley broke it. Third rounder Mal Snider put in three solid seasons as a starting tackle and guard and somewhat hilariously returned a kick for a touchdown along the way. ![]() George Kunz was the first selection, and the talented tackle went on to play six seasons with the Falcons, making four Pro Bowls along the way. The Falcons drafted Hall of Famer Claude Humphrey in 1968 and should-be Hall of Famer Tommy Nobis in 1966, so what makes 1969 stand out? It was the class where Atlanta landed their best collection of players. Today, let’s cover those brief, shaky first four seasons of the NFL Draft for our Atlanta Falcons. We’ll take each decade as its own retrospective, looking back at the best and worst draft picks, draft classes, and overall impact on the franchise. Atlanta’s first coaching staff and front office simply wasn’t up to the job, and that ensured that the Falcons would begin their life as one of the NFL’s worst and most frustrating franchises. Yet looking back on the 1966-1969 draft classes, what we see instead is a harsh lesson in what happens when miss the majority of your picks, especially when you have many rounds to work with. Early success would have put Atlanta on the map in the league as a team to be reckoned with, and their very first pick Tommy Nobis was a widely lauded slam dunk. The Falcons came into the NFL in 1966 as an expansion franchise with high hopes and very cool uniforms, armed with a raft of draft picks that included a pair of first rounders. ![]()
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