As part of the NFL's Legends initiative, former Atlanta Falcons players had an opportunity to attend a reception before the Thursday Night Football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Former Atlanta Falcons player Dewey McClain

Former Atlanta Falcons Lee Calland, Bob Whitlow and Alfred Jenkins

Former Atlanta Falcons player Jeff Stanciel and his wife Anita.

Former Atlanta Falcons player Dennis Havig

Former Atlanta Falcons players of the 1966 team Bob Richards, Ralph Heck, Lou Kirourac, Tommy Nobis and Lee Calland

Former Atlanta Falcons player Dewey McClain


Former Atlanta Falcons player Alfred Jenkins signs an autograph for a family member of former player Bob Whitlow.

Former Atlanta Falcons player Dewey McClain

Former Atlanta Falcons player Joel Williams

Former Atlanta Falcons player Paul Oswald

Former Atlanta Falcons players Roy Schmidt and Paul Sopher


Former Atlanta Falcons player Mike Haynes

Former Atlanta Falcons player Joe Profit


Former Atlanta Falcons player Jeff Yeates

Former Atlanta Falcons players of the 1966 team Bob Richards, Ralph Heck, Lou Kirourac, Tommy Nobis and Lee Calland with Falcons President and CEO Rich McKay

Former Atlanta Falcons player Larron Jackson

Former Atlanta Falcons player Dewey McClain

Former Atlanta Falcons Lou Kirourac

Family of Bob Whitlow

Former Atlanta Falcons player Jerome King
Earlier in the season, as part of the NFL's Legends initiative, former Atlanta Falcons players had an opportunity to reunite at a reception, before the Thursday Night Football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The anticipated reunion provided us a chance to catch up with some of the greatest players in franchise history, including former Falcons wide receiver Billy "White Shoes" Johnson.
When NFL fans think of the best touchdown celebrations, the Atlanta Falcons have quite the list of nominees. Who can forget former Falcons running back Jamaal Anderson's "Dirty Bird" dance, or the high-stepping, celebratory entertainment of former Falcons cornerback, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders?
Before "Prime Time" and the "Dirty Bird," there was former Falcons wide receiver Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, whose signature touchdown dance remains unforgettable, originating during his first years in the league with the Houston Oilers.
While Johnson was listed as a receiver on the Falcons roster from 1982-1987, his main contributions were in the return game. His 1,251 career return yards are second most in club history (Allen Rossum). In six seasons with the Falcons, Johnson walked away with countless memories.
"There are so many," Johnson said. "I just can't select or pick one moment, other than beating the San Francisco 49ers in 1982. That was a big one. We knocked them out of the playoffs and we kind of salvaged our season. They were always a nemesis of ours and we'd barely get by, but we beat them that day."