50. DE Jeff Yeates (1977-1984)

Yeates was one of the key pass rushers in Atlanta during his eight seasons in the city. He started with the Bills, and it wasn’t until he got to Atlanta until he got his career on track. Yeates’ pass-rushing ability allowed the Falcons defense to help guide the team to its first division title in 1980.

49. LB John Rade (1983-1991)

Rade started at strong-side linebacker for nine seasons in Atlanta and played one of the key roles on the team. Despite being outshone by the likes of Jessie Tuggle late in his career, Rade played his best seasons on the back end of his time in Atlanta.

48. DT Travis Hall (1995-2004)

Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT

As the key interior pass rusher for the Falcons during his 10 years in Atlanta, Hall provided 41.5 sacks to a team with excellent outside pass rushers in the likes of Chuck Smith, Patrick Kerney and Brady Smith. Outside of Rod Coleman, Hall is one of the better interior pass rushers in team history.

47. DE John Zook (1969-1975)

Zook was one of the better outside pass rushers for the Falcons during his seven years in Atlanta. He played before sacks were an official stat, but he was known for his ability to not just create pass rush but set the edge against the run. Zook also created 12 turnovers for the Falcons.

46. DE Chuck Smith (1992-1999)

Erik Perel /Allsport

As the second-best outside pass rusher in team history, Smith sacked quarterbacks 58.5 times — the second-most in franchise history. He was the key pass rusher on the 1998 team that went to the Super Bowl before finish his career in Charlotte with the Panthers. Smith now runs a pass-rush school in the Atlanta area with NFL and college-level clients.

45. LB Fulton Kuykendall (1975-1984)

The man known as “Captain Crazy” was exceptional for the Falcons during his 10-year career in Atlanta and was the leader of the 1980 defense. Kuykendall was a larger linebacker (6 feet 4, 225 pounds) who played more like a safety than linebacker at times.

44. OT Todd Weiner (2002-2008)

The Falcons traded for Weiner in 2002 to be the franchise blindside tackle that they needed once Bob Whitfield started to fall off in the 2001 season. Weiner locked down the blindside for every game he was healthy for during the seven-year stretch he was with the team.

43. OT Jake Matthews (2014-present)

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

After failed attempts with guys like Sam Baker at left tackle for Matt Ryan, the Falcons finally locked the role down with Jake Matthews in 2014. He has missed just one game during his five year career and finally went to his first Pro Bowl in 2018. Matthews career is just starting to take off and could vault him up there with Mike Kenn’s by the time he retires.

42. LB Joel Williams (1979-1982, 1986-1989)

Williams spent the middle part of his career in Philadelphia but had some of his best years with the Falcons. Williams created 14 turnovers with the Falcons during his eight seasons with the team. Williams had a couple of seasons with Atlanta that would have sent him to the Pro Bowl had the team been better.

41. LB Don Hansen (1969-1975)

Tommy Nobis was the primary linebacker for Atlanta during the years Hansen was on the team. The 21 turnovers he created in Atlanta during this time period helped the Falcons start winning as a fledgling franchise. Hansen and Nobis were a duo that would remind people of when Weatherspoon and Lofton were manning the Falcons linebacking corps.

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