It's fitting the man dubbed "Mr. Falcon" was selected as the Atlanta Falcons best all-time player not in the NFL Hall of Fame. NFL.com released a list of each franchise's best all-time non-Hall of Fame player, and selected Tommy Nobis as the Falcons representative.
Nobis was the first player ever selected by the Falcons in the NFL draft, when he went first overall to the expansion franchise in November of 1965. He was also selected by the Houston Oilers of the AFL fifth overall. The two-time All-American linebacker from the University of Texas decided to sign with Atlanta.
He enjoyed 11 seasons with the Falcons before retiring. He was named to five Pro Bowls. In Atlanta’s inaugural season in 1966, he was named the NFL’s Rookie of the Year as he was credited with a Falcons single-season record of 296 tackles. Nobis is a member of the Atlanta Falcons' Ring of Honor and his No. 60 was the first number retired by the team.
Nobis passed away last December at the age of 74 after a long battle with dementia and its associated health issues.
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