Notable Sixes in Falcons History
The Falcons will select at No. 6 overall in next month's draft, so we dug up some other notable instances of the number six in Falcons history
John James wore No. 6 as the Falcons punter from 1972-1981, the longest holder of the jersey number. James was a three-time Pro Bowler during the 1970s.
On Dec. 6, 1987, sixth-year running back Gerald Riggs becomes the Falcons' all-time leading rusher with 5,987 yards, surpassing William Andrews. Riggs still holds the record with 6,631 career rushing yards with the Falcons.
Doubles sixes were perhaps the luckiest for the Falcons as in 1966, then-owner Rankin Smith was presented with a certificate of membership, giving Atlanta full-fledge membership in the NFL.
The Falcons held the very first practice in team history on July 2, 1966 with 130 players checking in for physicals. Tommy Nobis, the Falcons' first ever draft pick, was among 66 rookies involved in that first session.
Tony Gonzalez leaves football with a slew of records, including every career best a tight end can hold. His 111 career touchdowns ranks sixth all-time in league history.
Falcons wide receiver Terance Mathis holds the team record for most two-point conversions in a career with, you guessed it, six.
Running back William Andrews made his debut in a big way on Sept. 2, 1979 as he racked up 167 rushing yards in a six-point overtime win over the New Orleans Saints.
During the storied 1998 season, running back Jamal Anderson set a Falcons record that still stands with six consecutive 100-yard games.
In 2002, then-quarterback Michael Vick became the sixth quarterback in NFL history to be voted to the Pro Bowl in his first year as a starter.
Led by safety Scott Case, the Falcons' "baby boomers" defense, with an average age of 25 years old, allowed just six touchdowns in the final seven games of the 1988 season.
On Dec. 6, 2001, Falcons ownership changes hands as current owner and chairman Arthur Blank reaches a preliminary agreement to purchase the team from Taylor Smith.
Ring of Honor members Claude Humphrey and Jeff Van Note hold the club record for most Pro Bowl appearances at six.
One of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, Brett Favre, was the No. 6 pick by the Falcons in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft.
The Falcons in 1980 set a record that still stands today with six consecutive road victories.
Nicknamed "Kaptain Krazy" by his teammates, Fulton Kuykendall was a sixth-round selection in 1975 and played 10 years at inside linebacker for the Falcons in the infamous Gritz Blitz defense.
The 1980 season saw six Falcons, William Andrews, Steve Bartkowski, Alfred Jenkins, Jeff Van Note, Mike Kenn and Junior Miller, selected to the Pro Bowl, a record for a year before it was broken again in 1981.
Falcons kicker Norm Johnson entered the history books on Nov. 13, 1994 as he booted six field goals in a one-point loss to New Orleans. Morten Andersen tied the record on Oct. 1, 2006 with six field goals against Arizona.
In 2011, general manager Thomas Dimitroff pulled off a stunner of a trade to move up from No. 27 to No. 6 in the NFL Draft to select wide receiver Julio Jones.
The Falcons selected Warren Bryant at No. 6 overall in 1977, the only other Atlanta selection at that spot being Julio Jones. Bryant played tackle with the Falcons from 1977-1984.
Even casual Falcons fans know Deion Sanders and his accolades, but in team history there were six total players with the surname of Sanders: Bob, Eric, James, Lewis, Ricky and, of course, Deion.
