The Falcons lost Tommy Nobis this past week. He was not just quite literally the first Falcon, being the team’s #1 pick their first season, but he was also one of the greatest ever to play for the franchise. With his death, we had another reason to appreciate his legacy, though the Pro Football Hall of Fame has not seen fit to enshrine one of the most deserving players never to make it to Canton.
The Falcons, at least, will honor Nobis on Monday night. Every player will be wearing a helmet sticker, likely with Nobis’s number, and hopefully everyone on defense will hit with the kind of force Nobis was known for.