The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has counted down the Top 50 players in Atlanta Falcons history during the franchise’s 50th anniversary season. No. 1 was a difficult choice and is deserved to be shared by teammates, linebacker Tommy Nobis and defensive end Claude Humphrey.
Years played for Falcons: Tommy Nobis, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and No. 5 choice in the AFL in December 1965, played his college ball at Texas. Nobis is one of college football’s all-time greatest linebackers. In his tenure with the Texas Longhorns (1963–1965), he averaged nearly 20 tackles a game and, as the only sophomore starter, was an important participant on the Longhorns’ 1963 National College Football Championship team, which defeated No.