Dream Team Project
Atlanta Falcons Dream Team
The all-time Falcons lineup, position by position. Every player here suited up for the Falcons. Disagree with a pick? Leave a comment or nominate someone below.
How we pick
One real lineup per franchise, judged on what each player did in this uniform: impact, playoff moments and longevity with the team first, league honors second. Players are measured against their own era, and every entry is checked against the team site, the Pro Football Hall of Fame or Pro Football Reference.
The roster
Our picks, grouped by unit.
Offense
11 playersQB
Matt Ryan
Franchise passing leader and league MVP of the 2016 NFC title season.
2016 NFL MVP; 4× Pro Bowl; 2016 1st-team All-Pro; Falcons career passing leader
Sources: Wikipedia
RB
William Andrews
Punishing dual-threat back who carried the early-80s playoff teams.
4× Pro Bowl; led NFL in yards from scrimmage 1981; Falcons Ring of Honor
Sources: Wikipedia
WR
Julio Jones
Dominant receiver of the 2010s and the top target for a decade.
7× Pro Bowl; 2× 1st-team All-Pro; led NFL in receiving yards 2015 & 2018
Sources: Wikipedia
WR
Roddy White
Career Falcon who was Matt Ryan's go-to target for years.
4× Pro Bowl; 2010 1st-team All-Pro; led NFL in receptions 2010
Sources: Wikipedia
WR
Andre Rison
Five prolific seasons as the scoring threat of the early-90s offense.
4× Pro Bowl with ATL; 2× 1st-team All-Pro; co-led NFL in receiving TDs 1993
Sources: Wikipedia
TE
Alge Crumpler
Top target of the Michael Vick era and a four-time Pro Bowler.
4× Pro Bowl (2003-2006)
Sources: Wikipedia
LT
Mike Kenn
Seventeen seasons at tackle, every one of them in Atlanta.
5× Pro Bowl; 3× 1st-team All-Pro; Falcons Ring of Honor
Sources: Wikipedia
LG
Justin Blalock
Steady left guard who started 125 games in eight seasons.
125 starts, all with ATL
Sources: Wikipedia; web search results (position and starts)
C
Jeff Van Note
Eighteen-year Falcon and the anchor of the line for two decades.
6× Pro Bowl; Falcons Ring of Honor
Sources: Wikipedia
RG
Bill Fralic
Overpowering run blocker and the best guard the team has had.
4× Pro Bowl; 2× 1st-team All-Pro; NFL 1980s All-Decade
Sources: Wikipedia; web search results (position)
RT
George Kunz
Elite right tackle from his rookie year through six Atlanta seasons.
4× Pro Bowl with ATL; 2× 1st-team All-Pro with ATL (1972, 1973)
Sources: Wikipedia
Defense
11 playersDT
Grady Jarrett
Disruptive interior leader of the defense for a full decade.
2× Pro Bowl (2019, 2020); 2019 2nd-team All-Pro
Sources: Wikipedia
DT
Jonathan Babineaux
Twelve-year Falcon who gave the line steady interior pressure.
12 seasons, all with ATL; 6 sacks in 2009 led NFL defensive tackles
Sources: Wikipedia
DE
Claude Humphrey
Hall of Fame pass rusher who starred on mostly losing teams.
6× Pro Bowl; 5× 1st-team All-Pro; 1968 Defensive Rookie of the Year
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
EDGE
John Abraham
Twice a first-team All-Pro edge rusher in seven Atlanta seasons.
2× 1st-team All-Pro with ATL (2008, 2010); 2010 Pro Bowl
Sources: Wikipedia
LB
Tommy Nobis
The first star in team history and Rookie of the Year in its debut season.
5× Pro Bowl; 1967 1st-team All-Pro; 1966 NFL Rookie of the Year; NFL 1960s All-Decade
Sources: Wikipedia
LB
Jessie Tuggle
The Hammer, a tackling machine across 14 seasons in Atlanta.
5× Pro Bowl; 4× NFL tackles leader; Falcons Ring of Honor
Sources: Wikipedia
LB
Keith Brooking
Rangy linebacker who made five straight Pro Bowls.
5× Pro Bowl (2001-2005); 2× 2nd-team All-Pro
Sources: Wikipedia
CB
Deion Sanders
Prime Time began here as a shutdown corner and big-play threat.
3× Pro Bowl with ATL; 2× 1st-team All-Pro with ATL (1992, 1993); Falcons Ring of Honor
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
CB
Rolland Lawrence
Ballhawk of the 1977 Grits Blitz defense and team interception leader.
1977 Pro Bowl; 1977 1st-team All-Pro; Falcons record 39 interceptions
Sources: Wikipedia
S
Scott Case
Hard-hitting defensive back who spent 11 seasons in Atlanta.
1988 Pro Bowl; led NFL in interceptions 1988
Sources: Wikipedia
S
Jessie Bates III
Rangy playmaker who has been the defense's best player since arriving.
2023 Pro Bowl; 2× 2nd-team All-Pro with ATL (2023, 2025)
Sources: Wikipedia
Special Teams / Coaching
4 playersK
Matt Bryant
Clutch kicker who became the franchise's all-time leading scorer.
2016 Pro Bowl; led NFL in scoring 2016; Falcons career scoring leader
Sources: Wikipedia
P
John James
Three straight Pro Bowls as the league's busiest punter of the 70s.
3× Pro Bowl (1975-1977); 4× NFL punting yards leader
Sources: Wikipedia
RET
Billy "White Shoes" Johnson
Legendary returner who revived his career in Atlanta.
1983 Pro Bowl; 1983 1st-team All-Pro; 1983 Comeback Player of the Year
Sources: Wikipedia
COACH
Mike Smith
Winningest coach in team history, with the first back-to-back winning seasons.
2008 AP Coach of the Year; Falcons record for coaching wins
Sources: Wikipedia
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