Tommy Nobis, the first player drafted by the expansion Atlanta Falcons and a standout middle linebacker who was never fully recognized for his talents on a long-struggling franchise, died on Wednesday at his home in an Atlanta suburb. He was 74.
The Falcons announced his death but did not specify the cause. Nobis was among hundreds of former National Football League players who struggled with physical and cognitive ailments after their careers ended.
A redheaded native of San Antonio, Nobis starred on both sides of the line at the University of Texas, where his No.