NFL history: The Mount Rushmore of every NFL franchise
By Randy Gurzi
Atlanta Falcons: Deion Sanders, Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Roddy White
The first name on the list for the Atlanta Falcons is a no-brainer. Even though he only spent five seasons with the Dirty Birds, Deion Sanders was their first real star player. Selected at No. 5 overall in the 1989 NFL Draft, Sanders was a two-sport star with a personality like no one else.
Sanders quickly became the hottest name in sports, as he was an active player in both the NFL and Major League Baseball — even appearing in the World Series with the 1991 Atlanta Braves. In his time with the Falcons, “Prime Time” recorded 24 interceptions and returned three of them for touchdowns. He was also a star returner, who took two punts and three kickoffs to the house for Atlanta.
Sanders is joined by Matt Ryan, who is set to go down as the best quarterback in the team’s history. An MVP in 2016, Ryan turned this team around after coming in and has led them to a 102-72 record in his first 11 seasons in the NFL.
Two of his favorite targets make the list, as Julio Jones and Roddy White round out this Mount Rushmore. Entering the 2019 season, White is the No. 1 receiver in Atlanta history in receptions (808) and yards (10,863).
Jones is second in each category (698 receptions for 10,731 yards), but is on pace to beat both marks — and may even do so this season should he have a campaign similar to 2018.