The Atlanta Falcons Mount Rushmore
Photo Credit: Mercedes-Benz
A popular debate for fans of every team and sport is who would be on their team's version of Mount Rushmore… Four of the greatest players who have made the greatest impact on their respective franchises, and although there are certainly deserving players who couldn’t make the cut, today we're going to go over who would make the Atlanta Falcons Mount Rushmore.
Photo Credit: Jeff Haynes, Associated Press
Quarterback- Matt Ryan: Love him or hate him, Matt Ryan was undoubtedly an above average quarterback for a long time, with a peak that saw him be arguably the best quarterback in the league for a few years. Now retired, Ryan threw for 62,792 yards and 381 touchdowns over his career, which is good for 7th and 9th all time respectively. Ryan made four Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro Team over his career, also winning 2008 Offensive Rookie of the Year as well as 2016 NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. Despite never winning a Super Bowl, Ryan helped keep the Falcons in contention over a decade-long span, and he deserves his spot on the Falcons Mount Rushmore.
Photo Credit: John Bazemore, Associated Press
Wide Receiver - Julio Jones: Teammates with Ryan for his entire tenure in Atlanta, Jones was one of the most dominant receivers of his era and arguably of all time. An extremely talented receiver as well as an athletic marvel, Jones became an NFL icon and one of the most beloved players in the league by fans. Although not officially retired, Jones is not currently on an NFL roster. Up to this point in his career he has racked up 13,629 receiving yards and 63 touchdown catches, although Julio never overwhelmed anyone with video game-like touchdown numbers, his receiving yards total puts him at 16th all time. Time will only tell if Jones will see an NFL field again, but his time with the Falcons was unforgettable.
Photo Credit: John Biever, Sports Illustrated
Cornerback - Deion Sanders: Despite his tenure in Atlanta being much shorter than most people would probably believe, Sanders is without a doubt best known for his time as a Falcon. “Prime Time” was always putting on a show for the Falcons, playing five seasons making three Pro Bowls, two First Team All-Pro teams and one Second Team All-Pro Team. Although a good portion of his prime came in Dallas and San Francisco, Sanders played a huge role in putting the Falcons on the map, and is one of the biggest stars in NFL history. Sanders also played for the Atlanta Braves at the same time he played for the Falcons, making him the biggest name in Atlanta sports for years. On top of being a shut-down cornerback for the Falcons, Deion also returned both kicks and punts and even played some receiver from time to time. Even though his stint on the Falcons was much shorter than the other players on this list, Sanders rightfully earned his spot on this list.
Photo Credit: Leahcares.org
Offensive Lineman - Mike Kenn: Probably the least known player in this article, Mike Kenn deserves his spot on this list as much as anyone. Spending his entire 17 year career in Atlanta, Kenn was the definition of a franchise tackle. Kenn made five Pro Bowls, two First Team All-Pro teams, and three Second Team All-Pro Teams during his tenure in Atlanta, and was widely respected as one of the league's best linemen during his era. Despite his name not ringing as many bells as Deion Sanders or Matt Ryan, real Falcons fans will know that Kenn rightfully earned his spot on this list. Kenn has recently been getting some potential hall of fame buzz, and with the league becoming more and more complex every year with loyalty to one team seemingly being rare now, I think he’s an excellent candidate for Canton.
