Atlanta Falcons specialist Eric Weems was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for the month of December. Weems averaged 30.9 yards per kickoff return in the month of December and returned both a punt and kickoff for touchdowns. He was also named to the NFC Pro Bowl squad as a specialist.
Weems posted a franchise record 102-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a Week 13 win over Tampa Bay. His club-record return sparked a run of 14 unanswered points and helped the Falcons overcome a 10-point deficit to earn a crucial division win. Weems continued his impressive month with a 55-yard punt return touchdown in the Falcons season finale against the Carolina Panthers. Weems is the only player in the NFC to record a punt return and a kickoff return touchdown this season and he is the first player in team history to accomplish that feat.
In December, Weems helped pace the Falcons coverage units as he posted five special teams tackles to help the Falcons hold opponents to a League-best average starting position of the 24.3-yard line. This season, Weems led the team with 16 special teams tackles, while his 27.5 yards per kick return average ranked third in the NFL.
Weems is the third Falcon to earn NFC Player of the Month honors this season. He joins WR Roddy White and QB Matt Ryan, who earned Conference Player of the Month honors for October and November, respectively. The fourth-year pro out of Bethune-Cookman University was also named the NFC's Special Teams player of the Week after his franchise record kickoff return in Week 13. In all, the Falcons have been awarded eight NFC awards this season. In addition to Weems and White, K Matt Bryant has earned player of the week honors twice, while RB Jason Snelling and CB Brent Grimes have also earned that distinction.
