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Many of us don’t remember the likes of George Kunz, Jim Mitchell, or Ken Burrow. Few of us can recall watching Ray Easterling or Fulton Kuykendall play. Yet we should know those names, because they were the shining lights on those early Falcons teams, long before we got to see the team’s first Super Bowl berth.
This 1971-1980 team is loaded with players whose names you might know but whose contributions you might not appreciate. I think it’s a great squad, and I encourage you to look up these guys and get to know them a little better. We are going to vote on the best player at each position all-time coming up here pretty soon, so you’ll need to know.
Here’s your team!
Offense
Quarterback: Steve Bartkowski
Running Back: Dave Hampton
Fullback: William Andrews
Wide Receivers: Alfred Jenkins & Ken Burrow
Tight End: Jim Mitchell
Tackles: Mike Kenn & George Kunz
Guards: R.C. Thielemann & Dave Scott
Center: Jeff Van Note
Defense & Special Teams
Defensive Ends: Claude Humphrey & John Zook
Defensive Tackles: Mike Tilleman & Don Smith
Linebackers: Tommy Nobis, Greg Brezina & Fulton Kuykendall
Cornerbacks: Rolland Lawrence & Ken Reaves
Safeties: Ray Brown & Ray Easterling
Kicker: Nick Mike-Mayer
Punter: John James
Returner: Willie Belton