NFL Draft: 30 best No. 1 overall picks in league history

NEW YORK - APRIL 22: Quarterback Sam Bradford (R) from the Oklahoma Sooners poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as they hold up a St. Louis Rams jersey after the Rams selected Bradford numer 1 overall during the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 22, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /

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Steve Bartkowski (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

NFL Draft: 30 best No. 1 overall picks in league history: number 24, QB Steve Bartkowski

Stats:

24,124 passing yards
156 touchdowns
55.9 completion percentage

Awards:

2 time Pro Bowler

Fans of the Atlanta Falcons loved quarterback Steve Bartkowski. He anchored the offensive end for 11 years as the number one overall pick in the 1975 draft.

Regardless of the love and appreciation for his contributions, Bartkowski doesn’t go down as one of the greatest QBs in franchise history. That distinction, of course, goes to either Michael Vick or current signal-caller, Matt Ryan. In eight of his 11 years with the squad, Bartkowski led the Falcons to a losing record. In fact, he ended his career with a horrific win/loss comparison, claiming victory in only 59 games while picking up losses 68 times.

With that said, Atlanta stood behind their man. Bartkowski, to his credit, had plenty of good moments in an Atlanta Falcons uniform. He was a back-to-back Pro Bowler in 1980 and 1981 after throwing for over 3,500 yards in each of those seasons. He also led the league in touchdown passes with 31 in 1980.

Bartkowski’s lack of playoff success always comes back to bite him. He pushed his Falcons teams to the postseason on three occasions but bowed out twice in the first round.

The results Falcons fans were looking for never quite came but for a short stretch, Bartkowski made the Falcons relevant again.

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