Austin Hooper ties Tony Gonzalez for longest TE TD streak in Falcons history

Austin Hooper’s leaping touchdown catch in the first half was the only one Atlanta mustered in the half against the Saints, which is critical because that’s the margin the Falcons currently lead by. It was also Hooper’s sixth touchdown grab of the season and his fourth in four games, and that’s the note I want to focus on for this article.

Hooper’s touchdown grab tied him with the legendary Tony Gonzalez for the best scoring streak by a tight end in Falcons history, which means another grab next week will give Hooper the franchise mark. That’s impressive territory for the fourth-year tight end, who figures to be a top offseason priority for this falcons team with free agency looming.

It’s a very cool note for Hooper, who is heading for one of the most impressive seasons by a tight end in team history. He’s on track for over 100 receptions, over 1,000 yards, and at least 10 touchdowns, and he’s been one of the few consistently impressive Falcons on offense this year. His blocking has also largely been an asset—though he had one missed opportunity in this one—and it’s not hard to envision him being a big piece in the next great Falcons offense, should we get one of those in the near future.

Let’s see if he can get the record for himself next week.