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Lists that rank the greatest players and coaches in the history of the NFL franchise.

Football

Jeff Van Note

A list of the best Atlanta Falcons of all time. Formed in 1966, the first few decades of the team's history wasn't too promising. The Falcons didn't reach the playoffs until 1978, and had only five playoff berths in its first 30 years. Atlanta has had some of the most entertaining teams in the league with a bunch of superstar players. These Falcons can be considered some of the best players in team history.Beginning in 1989 with the drafting of one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-football-players-ever">best players of all time</a> in Deion Sanders. With &quot;Prime Time&quot; and other great players like Andre Rison and Terence Mathis, the Falcons were <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-to-watch-while-drinking/anncasano?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">fun to watch</a>. In 1998, Jamal Anderson powered the Falcons to the franchise's first Super Bowl berth. Though the team lost to the Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII, it was a turning point for the Falcons. Under Michael VIck, the Falcons reached the playoffs twice. Say what you want about Vick, but he's one of the best Falcons of all time. More recently, Matt Ryan has been at the helm of the most prosperous era in Falcons history. The team had its first consecutive winning seasons in 2008-09 and the future looks bright with Ryan as the quarterback.This is the list of the best Atlanta Falcons of all time. If you see someone missing from this list, feel free to add him. Vote or rerank this list according to who you think is the greatest Atlanta Falcons player of all time.&nbsp;

Big fan of Atlanta football? Then check out this list of Atlanta Falcons linebackers with photos and seasons as starters.&nbsp;It includes every starting linebacker from throughout <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-atlanta-falcons-of-all-time/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Atlanta Falcons history</a>, including current linebackers and past ones. An important part of the Atlanta defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. Featuring some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-25-greatest-linebackers-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest NFL linebackers</a> of all time,&nbsp;the best Falcons&nbsp;LBs include Keith Brooking, John Rade, Jessie Tuggle, and Tommy Nobis.In the 2017-18 NFL season, the current Atlanta Falcons starting LBs and backup LBs are Vic Beasley, De'Vondre Campbell, Deion Jones, LaRoy Reynolds, and Duke Riley.&nbsp; Who are the best linebackers in Atlanta Falcons history? Here is every player who has ever held the position of Atlanta Falcons&nbsp;starting linebacker.

Big fan of Atlanta football? Then check out this list of Atlanta Falcons wide receivers with photos and seasons as starters.&nbsp;It includes every starting wide receiver from throughout <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-atlanta-falcons-of-all-time/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Atlanta Falcons history</a>, including current wide receivers and past ones. Featuring 2018-2019 Atlanta Falcons&nbsp;and some of the greatest NFL&nbsp;wide receivers of all time,&nbsp;the best Falcons&nbsp;WRs include Roddy White, Michael Haynes, Terance Mathis, and Stacey Bailey.&nbsp;

Who are the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-nfl-wide-receiver/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best wide receivers</a> in Atlanta Falcons history? Here is every player who has ever held the position of Atlanta Falcons&nbsp;starting wide receiver.

Big fan of Atlanta football? Then check out this list of Atlanta Falcons cornerbacks with photos and seasons as starters.&nbsp;It includes every starting cornerback from throughout <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-atlanta-falcons-of-all-time/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Atlanta Falcons history</a>, including current cornerbacks and past ones. An important part of the Atlanta defensive backfield, the CB position requires fast players to cover receivers, defend against pass offenses, and make tackles. Featuring 2018-2019 Falcons and&nbsp;some of the&nbsp;greatest NFL cornerbacks of all time,&nbsp;the best Falcons&nbsp;CBs include Deion Sanders, Robert Alford, Desmond Trufant, Ray Buchanan, and Brent Grimes.Who are the best cornerbacks in Atlanta Falcons history? Here is every player who has ever held the position of Atlanta Falcons&nbsp;starting cornerback.

Coaches

Norm Van Brocklin

There have been many Atlanta Falcons coaches since the team got its start, but who is truly the best Atlanta Falcons coach of all time? Help us answer that question by upvoting your personal favorite Atlanta Falcons coaches, and downvoting any that you believe brought the team down. The Falcons have unfortunately never won a Super Bowl, but they've had some great head coaches nonetheless. &nbsp; Mike Smith coached the team for 6 seasons from 2008-2014, seeing mild success with 5 playoff appearances. &nbsp;He was named AP NFL Coach of the Year his first year with the team.&nbsp;Dan Reeves brought the Falcons to their first Super Bowl appearance in 1998, ultimately losing to the Denver Broncos 34-19. However Atlanta was a dominant force that year finishing the regular season with a 14-2 record. Which of these two would you put over the other? &nbsp; Who is the greatest Atlanta Falcons coach of all time? Let us know by upvoting for your favorite head coaches below that you believe really made an impact on the franchise.

Big fan of Atlanta football? Then check out this list of Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks with photos! It includes every starting quarterback from throughout Atlanta Falcons history, including current quarterbacks and past ones. This roster contains many American football greats, players in the game with the highest ratings in the NFL. The QB is the leader of the offensive team, the one who often calls the plays. Although most teams use an offensive coordinator now, QBs still need to know the intricacies of the rules for trick plays and tactics. Vigorous training is a must-- and don't forget that a quarterback is only as good as his receivers.Featuring 2018-2019 Atlanta Falcons&nbsp;and some of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-quarterbacks-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest NFL quarterbacks</a>&nbsp;of all time, the best Falcons QBs include&nbsp;Matt Ryan, Chris Chandler, Michael Vick, and Steve Bartkowski, among other greats.Who are the best quarterbacks in Atlanta Falcons history? They're on this comprehensive list, along with all of the other sports stars who have had the honor of being the arm behind this beloved Georgia team. Here is every athlete who's ever held the illustrious position of Atlanta Falcons quarterback.

The Atlanta Falcons have had some great tight ends throughout the franchise&rsquo;s history. This list of past Falcons tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars.&nbsp;As the tight end position increasingly becomes more of a focal point in the offensive schemes of today, one can only imagine what this list could look like in years down the road. No matter what happens in&nbsp;the evolution of this position, these Atlanta tight ends have left a legacy for this that can&rsquo;t be taken away.&nbsp;

Great <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-atlanta-falcons-of-all-time/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Atlanta Falcons players</a> such as Tony Gonzalez, Alge Crumpler, and Jim Mitchell have gone down as some of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-25-greatest-tight-ends-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best tight ends</a> in franchise history.

So&nbsp;who is the greatest tight end in Atlanta Falcons history? Which of these tight ends has left a lasting legacy in the ATL? Vote below for who you think is the best Atlanta Falcons tight end of all time!

Big fan of Atlanta football? Then check out this list of Atlanta Falcons running backs with photos and seasons as starters.&nbsp;It includes every starting running back from throughout <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-atlanta-falcons-of-all-time/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Atlanta Falcons history</a>, including current running backs and past ones. Featuring 2018-2019 Atlanta Falcons&nbsp;and some of the greatest NFL&nbsp;running backs&nbsp;of all time, the best Falcons RBs include&nbsp;Michael Turner, Warrick Dunn, and Jamal Anderson.Who are the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-nfl-running-backs-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best running backs</a> in Atlanta Falcons history? Here is every player who has ever held the position of Atlanta Falcons&nbsp;starting running back.

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&lt;p&gt;The best Atlanta Falcons kickers ever&nbsp;have all had a part in some of the biggest moments in franchise history. NFL games can be won and lost by one or two points, making every made or missed kick of the greatest importance and every starting kicker a potential hero.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;While recent stars like Matt Bryant and Jay Feely&nbsp;have made their mark in the Falcons&apos; past, early standouts&nbsp;like Nick Mike-Mayer and Mick Luckhurst helped craft their own legacies in the old days of&nbsp;the franchise.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;So which of these kickers from Falcons history deserves to rank near the top of the list? Who are the best Atlanta Falcons kickers of all-time? Vote below, and check back to see what other football fans thought.&lt;/p&gt;


Every Kicker In Atlanta Falcons History, Ranked By Football Fans

The Best Atlanta Falcons Kickers Of All Time

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Matt Bryant

Steven Matt Bryant (born May 29, 1975), nicknamed "Money Matt", is an American football placekicker who is a free agent. He played college football at Baylor, and was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the AFL's  Iowa Barnstormers in 2000. Bryant is best known for his 10 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL), with whom he made a Pro Bowl. He has also been a member of the New York Giants, Frankfurt Galaxy, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Florida Tuskers, and is the eighth most-accurate kicker in NFL history.



Morten Andersen

Morten Andersen (born August 19, 1960), nicknamed the "Great Dane", is a Danish-American former American football kicker and All-American at Michigan State University. He is the all-time leader in games played in the NFL, with 382. He formerly held both the NFL records for field goals and points scored, both records were broken by Adam Vinatieri in 2018. At retirement, Andersen was the all-time leading scorer for two different rival teams; the New Orleans Saints, with whom he spent 13 seasons, and the Atlanta Falcons, with whom he spent a combined eight seasons.
He retired in 2008, after not playing for a team that season. Andersen was announced as a member of the 2017 induction class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame at that year's NFL Honors. He is only the second exclusive placekicker inducted in the Hall of Fame, and the first since Jan Stenerud in 1991.

Mick Luckhurst

Michael Christopher "Mick" Luckhurst (born March 31, 1958) is a retired American football placekicker.  One of the earliest British-born players in NFL history, he played his entire professional career with the Atlanta Falcons.

Norm Johnson

Norman Douglas "Norm" Johnson (born May 31, 1960, Inglewood, California) is a former professional American football placekicker who played for 18 seasons in the National Football League. During that time, he played for the Seattle Seahawks (1982–90), Atlanta Falcons (1991–1994), Pittsburgh Steelers (1995–98), and the Philadelphia Eagles (1999).  Johnson played college football at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Johnson finished his 18 NFL seasons with 366 of 477 field goals (76%) and 638 of 644 extra points (99%), giving him a total of 1,736 points.  Currently, Johnson has the 12th most points in NFL history, as well as the 8th most extra points made and the 15th most field goals made., Johnson's performance earned him the enduring nickname "Mr. Automatic" received during his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks. In 1993, while with the Atlanta Falcons, Johnson led the league in field goal percentage (96.3%), making 26 out of 27 field goal attempts.
Johnson's best season was in 1995, when he led the NFL in field goals made (34) and attempted (41), while also successfully kicking all 39 of his extra point attempts.  He then assisted the Steelers to Super Bowl XXX by kicking four field goals in their 40-21 divisional playoff win over the Buffalo Bills and two field goals in their 20-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC title game.  He also kicked a 46-yard field goal in the Steelers' 27-17 Super Bowl loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Johnson's family includes wife Lori, and three sons, Jordan, Jarrett and Jameson.   Johnson graduated in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in economics from UCLA.  After his NFL career, he made his real estate hobby into a profession.  He now resides in western Washington state, where he works as a real estate agent.
On December 10, 2007, Johnson rescued a woman who had rolled over her car on icy roads in Kitsap County, Washington.  As she struggled to crawl from the partially submerged car, Johnson freed her by breaking out a window with a rock.

Jay Feely

Thomas James "Jay" Feely (born May 23, 1976) is a former American football placekicker. He started his career with the Florida Bobcats in the Arena Football League as a street free agent in 1999 before playing for several NFL teams.
Feely was a member of the Tampa Bay Storm, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Chicago Bears. He was a member of the Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie Team with the Falcons in 2001 and was a Pro Bowl alternate with the Giants in 2005. He played college football at Michigan.

Jason Elam

Jason Elam (born March 8, 1970) is a former American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft and played 15 seasons with the Broncos and two with the Atlanta Falcons.A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Elam won two Super Bowl rings with the Broncos and was tied with Tom Dempsey, Sebastian Janikowski and David Akers for the longest field goal in NFL history at 63 yards before it was broken by another Bronco, Matt Prater, on December 8, 2013, with a 64-yard field goal.

Nick Mike-Mayer

Nicholas "Nick" Mike-Mayer (MICK-uh-myur) (born March 1, 1950) is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League from 1973–1982 for the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Buffalo Bills. He made the Pro Bowl in his rookie year. He later played with the San Antonio Gunslingers of the United States Football League.  His brother Steve Mike-Mayer also played in the NFL.  Mike-Mayer would later go on to play in the Arena Football League for the Chicago Bruisers and Los Angeles Cobras, earning All-Arena honors in 1987.
Mike-Mayer's father had played soccer in Hungary and left with his family to escape Communism, ending up in Italy, where Mike-Mayer was born. The family emigrated to the United States and settled in Passaic, New Jersey, where he played football at Passaic High School.

Tim Mazzetti

Timothy Alan Mazzetti (born February 1, 1956 in Old Greenwich, Connecticut) is a former National Football League placekicker from 1978–1980) for the Atlanta Falcons. He later played with the Boston/New Orleans/Portland Breakers of the United States Football League.

Matt Prater

Matthew Phillip Prater (born August 10, 1984) is an American football placekicker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL).  He played college football for the University of Central Florida, and was originally signed by the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2006. Prater holds the NFL record for kicking the longest field goal (64 yards), which he set on December 8, 2013, as a member of the Denver Broncos in a game against the Tennessee Titans in the first half as time expired. He also holds the Detroit Lions franchise record for longest field goal (59 yards), which he set on January 3, 2016. He was cut by the Denver Broncos after completing a suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. With the Lions in the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Prater set the NFL records for consecutive field goal conversions of 50+ yards (14 field goals) and 55+ yards (seven field goals).

Todd Peterson

Joseph Todd Peterson (born February 4, 1970) is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the New York Giants from the University of Georgia with the ninth pick of the seventh round (177th overall) in the 1993 NFL Draft. Peterson last played with the Atlanta Falcons in 2005. His contract with the Falcons expired on March 11, 2006 and he retired after that season.  He and his wife, Susan, are co-owners of Cabell's Designs LLC, with Cabell Sweeney.  Cabell's is a design and licensing group focusing on collegiately licensed products in the giftware industry.

Greg Davis

Greg Davis (born October 29, 1965 in Rome, Georgia) is a former National Football League kicker who played for 12 seasons from 1987 - 1998 with the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders.

Ken Vinyard

Ken Vinyard is a former placekicker in the National Football League. Vinyard was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1969 NFL Draft and would play the following season with the Atlanta Falcons.

Bill Bell

Paul McFadden

Paul McFadden (born September 24, 1961) is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League.  He gained recognition at the collegiate level as a kicker at Youngstown State University.  McFadden became widely known for his barefooted kicking style.
He made his professional debut with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1984.  He  led the NFL in field goals kicked (30) was named NFC Rookie of the Year and voted Co-MVP of the Eagles by his teammates.  He repeated as Co-MVP of the Eagles in 1985 and remained with the team until 1987.  He spent his final years in the NFL with the New York Giants (1988) and Atlanta Falcons (1989), respectively. His final NFL game was on 5 November 1989.  
After ending his career as a professional football player, McFadden returned to Youngstown, where he served as director of athletic development from 1993 to 2002 and Chief Development Officer from 2002 to 2011. In 2011, he was appointed as President of the Youngstown State University Foundation.  He currently resides in northeastern Ohio with his two sons.
He earned a BA in History from Youngstown State University in 1992, and a MA from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in 2000.

Ali Haji-Sheikh

Ali S. Haji-Sheikh (born January 11, 1961) is a former American football kicker. He played college football at Michigan. He was drafted in the ninth round (237th overall) in the 1983 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins.
While at Michigan, Haji-Sheikh set a Big Ten record with 78 consecutive extra points, and he broke the NFL record for the most field goals in a season, as a rookie during the 1983 NFL season.



Brad Daluiso

Bradley William Daluiso (born December 31, 1967 in San Diego, California). Brad played soccer for two years at Valhalla High School in El Cajon, CA. He is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League.  He played twelve seasons, the majority of them with the New York Giants. In addition, he played for the Atlanta Falcons, the Buffalo Bills, the Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders.  Daluiso appeared in Super Bowl XXVI for the Buffalo Bills and in Super Bowl XXXV for the New York Giants.  He retired after the 2001 season.  Daluiso played college football at the University of California, Los Angeles and Grossmont College, El Cajon, California. Brad was on the "Late Show with David Letterman" in 1997 (Episode #5.62). He is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

Giorgio Tavecchio

Giorgio Tavecchio is an American football Placekicker for the San Francisco 49ers.

Shayne Graham

Michael Shayne Graham (born December 9, 1977) is a former American football kicker and current coach. Graham is a former American football placekicker who played 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Virginia Tech. He made his professional debut in May 2000 with the Richmond Speed of the Arena Football League's now-defunct developmental league, AF2.His first NFL contract was with the New Orleans Saints where he signed as an undrafted free agent in 2000. A journeyman most of his career, he played for 14 different NFL franchises over 9 seasons, excluding the 7 seasons he spent with the Cincinnati Bengals. With the Bengals, he made the Pro Bowl in 2005. In the latter part of his career, he was signed as an injury replacement or to provide competition during training camps for a number of teams.
In 2018, Graham was hired as a special teams intern at Michigan State University.

Tony Zendejas

Tony Zendejas (born May 15, 1960) is a former Mexican American football placekicker. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League (USFL). After the USFL folded, he was selected in the first round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental draft by the Washington Redskins.
In his career, Zendejas also played for the Houston Oilers, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, and San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL).

Fred Steinfort

Friedrich W. "Fred" Steinfort (born November 3, 1952) is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League who played for five different teams from (1976–1983).  He played college football at Boston College.
When Steinfort won the Oakland Raiders' kicking job just before the start of the 1976 NFL season, he sent the NFL’s current all-time leading scorer, George Blanda with 2,002 points, into retirement. In 1979, when he assumed the same role with the Denver Broncos, it was Jim Turner, at that time the NFL’s third-leading scorer with 1,439 points that he displaced.

Wade Traynham

Bob Etter

Robert Glenn Etter (born August 8, 1945) is a former American college and professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) and World Football League (WFL) for four seasons during the 1960s and 1970s.  He played college football for the University of Georgia.  He played professionally for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons in 1968 and 1969, and the Memphis Southmen of the WFL in 1974 and 1975.
Etter was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
He now teaches mathematics at California State University, Sacramento.

The best Atlanta Falcons kickers ever&nbsp;have all had a part in some of the biggest moments in franchise history. NFL games can be won and lost by one or two points, making every made or missed kick of the greatest importance and every starting kicker a potential hero.

While recent stars like Matt Bryant and Jay Feely&nbsp;have made their mark in the Falcons&#39; past, early standouts&nbsp;like Nick Mike-Mayer and Mick Luckhurst helped craft their own legacies in the old days of&nbsp;the franchise.

So which of these kickers from Falcons history deserves to rank near the top of the list? Who are the best Atlanta Falcons kickers of all-time? Vote below, and check back to see what other football fans thought.

The best Atlanta Falcons kickers ever&nbsp;have all had a part in some of the biggest moments in franchise history. NFL games can be won and lost by one or ...