FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Another former Falcons great will be inducted into the team's Ring of Honor in 2019.
Roddy White, who was selected by Atlanta in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, will become the 11th member of the Falcons Ring of Honor on Dec. 8, when the team faces the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For tickets to the Panthers-Falcons game, click here.
A pair of former teammates – quarterback Matt Ryan and receiver Michael Jenkins – surprised White with the news. Unbeknownst to White, the two were in a meeting room at the team's headquarters in Flowery Branch and had video highlights of White playing when he walked in.
"So, Rod, Jenk and I just wanted to be the first ones to welcome you to the Falcons Ring of Honor – you're going in there," Ryan said.
You can watch the entire moment unfold in the video above.
White spent all 11 seasons of his NFL career with the Falcons, ending his run as the all-time leading receiver in franchise history. In that time, White caught 808 passes for 10,863 yards and 63 touchdowns – all marks that remain franchise records.
An All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, White gained at least 1,000 receiving yards in six straight seasons beginning in 2007. His best year came in 2010, when White caught 115 passes for 1,389 yards and 10 touchdowns.
"I wanted to be special to this franchise," White said. "You know when they drafted me I told Rich McKay, I am going to come in and I'm going to be the best receiver have had until that point."
White's career spanned one of the most successful periods in Falcons history, and he played with some of Atlanta's most notable players, including Michael Vick, Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez, Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. With Ryan and Jones, White helped the Falcons become one of the league's best passing offenses.
White is the latest player since former running back Warrick Dunn, who was inducted in 2017, to join the Falcons Ring of Honor.
"Man, I'm just happy, man," White said. "It's a good day. It's a good day for the White family!"
