The Falcoholic - Throwback Thursday: Reminisce about Falcons from the past Falcons News, Analysis & Tomfoolery For and By Fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/21944/falcoholic-fave.jpg2019-02-21T16:00:00-05:00http://www.thefalcoholic.com/rss/stream/179843272019-02-21T16:00:00-05:002019-02-21T16:00:00-05:00Falcons Throwback Thursday: Jamal Anderson
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<p>Reminisce about the Falcons of old.</p> <p id="R4GEqY">Hey Falcoholics, I’m back with another edition of The Falcoholic’s Throwback Thursday series. This weekly segment highlights a former <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> player and discusses what they did for the franchise. </p>
<p id="qtpuRJ">Whether you’ve been a fan since the inaugural season, or just became a fan recently, this series will give insight on players from the past. So, let’s begin. </p>
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<p id="UKup2X">Jamal Anderson was born in Newark, New Jersey on Sept. 30, 1972 to James and Zenobia Anderson. James Anderson, a former Newark police officer, worked security for many African-American sports professionals and entertainers, such as Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, and <span>Mike Tyson</span>. </p>
<p id="DESPap">Jamal was the captain of the football team at El Camino Real High. In 1989, he was named to the CIF Los Angeles City Section 4-A All-City first team. Following high school, Jamal attended Moorpark College, before going on to play football for the Utah Utes. His senior season at Utah was very strong, finishing with 11 rushing touchdowns, 958 rushing yards, three receiving touchdowns, and an All-WAC conference selection. </p>
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<p id="wdrppH">With the No. 201 pick in the seventh round of the 1994 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a>, the Atlanta Falcons selected running back Jamal Anderson. Evaluators said he was a little too small and not fleet enough to qualify as feature back — boy, were they wrong! </p>
<p id="c4B4nj">Jamal didn’t do much during his first two seasons, as he waited for his opportunity behind another Falcons great, running back Craig “Iron Head” Heyward. Due to an injury to Heyward, Anderson finally got his chance to demonstrate what he could do. In his 12 starts that season, Jamal had 232 carries, 1,055 rushing yards, and six total touchdowns. </p>
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<p id="u339ZK">Even with Jamal breaking out, the Falcons finished 3-13 in 1996. In 1997, the organization hired a new head coach to turn things around, so in came Dan Reeves. </p>
<p id="oW2BoK">That season, the team moved to a more run-based offense and it showed. Even though the team finished 7-9, and Jamal was dealing with an ankle sprain, he still finished with 10 total touchdowns and 1,086 all-purpose yards. </p>
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<p id="KCGOHk">Then came 1998, one of the greatest seasons in Atlanta Falcons history. The team was firing on all cylinders, from wide receivers Tony Martin and Terance Mathis both individually having over 1,000 yards receiving, to defensive end Lester Archambeau’s impressive 10.0 sacks. </p>
<p id="UWeLs6">The team had a nine-game win streak, and Jamal had one of the best single-season performances in Atlanta Falcons history, as he finished the year with 16 total touchdowns, 115.4 yards per game average, and 1,846 rushing yards, which is still a single-season franchise record. </p>
<p id="E9W8ZL">During the Week 7 matchup against the <a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a>, the “Dirty Bird” debuted. While breaking free from defenders, Jamal busted down the sideline, a Saints’ safety failed to get him out of bounds, and he dove for the pile-on. Jamal got up, and started flapping his wings, also known as the “Dirty Bird.” But if you don’t want to take my word for it, let the original “Dirty Bird” tell you:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">We stomped the Giants. But I did NOT score. So I didnt get to celebrate what I was thinking about doing. Neither did OJ. Next week vs the I broke free, busted outside and drove for the pylon.... TD! 1st Dirty Bird EVER right here. <a href="https://t.co/nalYQ2NqhY">pic.twitter.com/nalYQ2NqhY</a></p>— Jamal Anderson (@jamthedirtybird) <a href="https://twitter.com/jamthedirtybird/status/1043277803238645761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2018</a>
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<p id="dzxyo1">Heading into the playoffs, the 14-2 Falcons looked unstoppable. Their first matchup came against the Steve Young-led <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a>. Jamal rushed 29 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns as the Falcons won 20-18. That victory sent them to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfc-championship-game">NFC Championship</a> against the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a>. </p>
<p id="fi1ZHE">The Vikings defense bottled Jamal up on the ground, where he had 23 carries for just 67 yards, but he scored a receiving touchdown, which — with the help of kicker <span>Morten Andersen</span>’s field goal — sent the Falcons to their first ever <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a>. </p>
<p id="bLfVsf">At the time of Super Bowl XXXIII, the Falcons had won 22 of their last 26 games. Unfortunately, the team went on to lose a heartbreaker to the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a> 19-34. Jamal Anderson went on to play for three more seasons, until he suffered a career-ending knee injury in 2001. </p>
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<p id="ZMMSf7">In his eight-year NFL career, Jamal totaled 5,336 rushing yards and 41 total touchdowns. Aside from being a Pro Bowler and AP First-team All-Pro selection in 1998, fans will always remember him as the original Dirty Bird. </p>
<p id="6LDxoi">Personally, Jamal was my favorite Falcons player growing up. When I was six years old, I attended my first ever Falcons game, a Week 2 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in 1996. It’s special to me in hindsight because it was Jamal’s second start as a Falcon. I really admired his attitude on the field and how he fought for every yard. The first Falcons jersey I ever got was a No. 32 Jamal Anderson jersey, which I still have hanging in my closet to this day.</p>
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<p id="vxgM0r">So let me know in the comments below some of your favorite Jamal Anderson memories. As always, you can find me on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanBirchfield">@EvanBirchfield</a>. Additionally, make sure to follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_falcoholic/">@The_Falcoholic</a> on Instagram for up-to-date news and information. Thanks for reading, Falcoholics.</p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2019/2/21/18227947/falcons-throwback-thursday-jamal-andersonEvan Birchfield2019-02-14T10:00:00-05:002019-02-14T10:00:00-05:00Throwback Thursday: Remembering former Falcons WR Terance Mathis
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<p>Reminisce about the Falcons of old,</p> <p id="ue4QDZ">Hey Falcoholics, I’m back with another edition of The Falcoholic’s Throwback Thursday series. This weekly segment highlights a former <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a>’ player and discusses what they did for the franchise. </p>
<p id="3RqURx">Whether you’ve been a fan since the inaugural season, or just became a fan recently, this series will give insight on players from the past. Without further ado, let’s reminisce about former Falcons wide receiver Terance Mathis. </p>
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<p id="qLk5Sv">Terance Mathis was born in Detroit, Michigan, but then moved to the state of Georgia, where he played high school football in Stone Mountain for Redan High School. Mathis played quarterback for Redan in high school, but then switched to wide receiver in college where he played for the University of New Mexico. </p>
<p id="6O7edI">At New Mexico, Mathis had a solid collegiate career, totaling 263 catches, 4,254 yards, and 36 touchdowns in four seasons. In the 1990 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a>, Terance Mathis was selected in the sixth round by the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a>. For his first few seasons, the Jets primarily used Mathis as a kick returner, and he never caught over 30 passes in a season while playing for them.</p>
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<p id="2a4EZL">In 1994, the Atlanta Falcons signed Terance Mathis as an unrestricted free agent. His first season with the Falcons was arguably the best season of his NFL career, as he had a franchise-record 111 catches, and added 11 receiving touchdowns. </p>
<p id="gGHHAq">Following that season, Mathis was selected to the NFC’s <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> team. He was selected as the Atlanta Falcons’ “Man of the Year” in 1998 for his accomplishments on and off the field. </p>
<p id="2XMynO">Also that season, Mathis made his first NFL postseason appearance and got to play for the Falcons in <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> XXXIII against the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a>. Even though he led the Falcons in receptions during the game, it wasn’t enough to deliver them a victory. Two years later, he passed Andre Rison on the Falcons all-time touchdown list. </p>
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<p id="c7NCmm">Terance Mathis went on to have three more quality seasons with the Falcons before being released by the team following the 2001 NFL season. Mathis then signed with the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> where he lasted one season, and then he retired from the NFL following the 2002 season. Currently, Mathis is second all-time in career two-point conversions with six, behind <span>Marshall Faulk</span>’s seven. </p>
<p id="12ecBw">Since retiring, Mathis has served as the Vice President of Marketing for NASCAR’s Leavine Family Racing, and became the head coach at Pinecrest Academy in 2017.</p>
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<p id="NTM2k7">I’ll never forget the receiving tandem of Terance Mathis and Tony Martin during the 1998 season. Both wide receivers eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, giving the Falcons a formidable passing attack, which helped lead the team to its first-ever Super Bowl appearance. Tell me your favorite Terance Mathis moments below. </p>
<p id="ApXIbL">If you’ve missed any of the past segments, on players such as Jessie “The Hammer” Tuggle and Tommy “Mr. Falcon” Nobis, you can check them out by clicking the group link above. As always, you can find me on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanBirchfield">@EvanBirchfield</a>. Additionally, make sure to follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_falcoholic/">The Falcoholic</a> on Instagram for up-to-date news and information. Thanks for reading, Falcoholics.</p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2019/2/14/18219535/throwback-thursday-remembering-former-falcons-wr-terance-mathisEvan Birchfield2019-02-07T15:00:00-05:002019-02-07T15:00:00-05:00Throwback Thursday: Remembering former Falcons RB Gerald Riggs
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<p><em>Reminisce about the Falcons of old</em></p> <p id="kj9pcz">Hey Falcoholics, I’m back with another edition of The Falcoholic’s Throwback Thursday series. </p>
<p id="7XgeII">This weekly segment highlights a former <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> player and discusses what they did for the franchise. Whether you’ve been a fan since the inaugural season, or just became a fan recently, this series will give insight on players from the past. So let’s begin. </p>
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<p id="twlFla">If you’ve missed the past two segments, they were on <a href="https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2019/1/24/18193782/throwback-thursday-jessie-the-hammer-tuggle">Jessie “The Hammer” Tuggle</a> and <a href="https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2019/1/31/18201413/throwback-thursday-tommy-mr-falcon-nobis">Tommy “Mr. Falcon” Nobis</a>. This is the first segment highlighting a player from the offensive side of the ball, with none other than running back <span>Gerald Riggs</span>. </p>
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<p id="FSlME3">Gerald Riggs was born on November 6, 1960 in Tullos, La. He attended school in Las Vegas, Nev. at Bonanza High School where he was a bruising and durable runner. </p>
<p id="jckc5V">After graduating from Bonanza in 1978, Riggs took his talents to Arizona State University to play at the collegiate level. After playing in a reserve role for a few years, Riggs got his opportunity to start in 1981. That season, he scored six touchdowns and had 891 rushing yards in 11 games for the Sun Devils. </p>
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<p id="fmLSC3">With the No. 9 overall pick in the 1982 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a>, Gerald Riggs was selected by the Atlanta Falcons. His NFL career took off as he scored 45 rushing touchdowns in his first 6 seasons with the Falcons. </p>
<p id="qHS3iy">During his time in Atlanta, Riggs made the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> three times and rushed for 6,631 yards, making him the franchise’s all-time leading rusher. Prior to the 1989 season, Riggs was traded to Washington, where he played for three seasons. In 1991, his final NFL season, Riggs led Washington to a 37-24 victory over the <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> in <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> XXVI.</p>
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<p id="XnQfXT">Gerald Riggs currently has the most rushing attempts, rushing yards, and the second-most rushing touchdowns in Atlanta Falcons history. Riggs was inducted into the Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor in 2013, and the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. </p>
<p id="AnSJ1M">Well, that’s all for today’s Throwback Thursday. Share some of your favorite memories of Gerald Riggs below. As always, you can find me on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanBirchfield">@EvanBirchfield</a>. Thanks for reading, Falcoholics.</p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2019/2/7/18208980/throwback-thursday-remembering-former-falcons-rb-gerald-riggsEvan Birchfield2019-01-31T16:00:00-05:002019-01-31T16:00:00-05:00Throwback Thursday – Tommy “Mr. Falcon” Nobis
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<p><em>Reminisce about the Falcons of old, starting with Mr. Falcon himself. </em></p> <p id="3UPd4t">Hey Falcoholics, I’m back with another edition of The Falcoholic’s Throwback Thursday series. This weekly segment highlights a former <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a>’ player and discusses what they did for the franchise. Whether you’ve been a fan since the inaugural season, or just became a fan recently, this series will give insight on players from the past. So let’s begin.</p>
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<p id="EbjIiX">Last week’s inaugural article was on middle linebacker <a href="https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2019/1/24/18193782/throwback-thursday-jessie-the-hammer-tuggle">Jessie “The Hammer” Tuggle</a>, and this week we will focus on another Falcons’ linebacker, Tommy Nobis. If you’re a newer fan, you likely have no idea who he is. The reason is because Nobis was technically the first ever Atlanta Falcon, as the Falcons selected him with the first overall selection in the 1966 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a>. </p>
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<p id="GawcQ0">Nobis went to school at the University of Texas, where he’s still known as one of the greatest linebackers in college football history. Nobis finished his collegiate career as a two-time All American (1964-1965), three-time All-Southwest Conference honoree (1963-1965), Maxwell Award winner, and helped the Longhorns win their first national championship in 1963. His #60 is retired by The University of Texas, where he’s joined by <span>Colt McCoy</span>, Earl Campbell, <span>Ricky Williams</span>, Bobby Layne, and <span>Vince Young</span> as the only Longhorns to have their jerseys retired by the school.</p>
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<p id="Yci0kg">In the 1966 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected Tommy Nobis with the first overall selection. Nobis was also selected in the AFL draft by his home state Houston Oilers, but decided to sign with the Falcons instead, officially becoming the first member of the new franchise. This is where he gained his nickname, “Mr. Falcon.” In his first season, Nobis went on to make the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> and be selected as the NFL’s Rookie of the Year. In that season, Nobis made an immediate impact as he was named Rookie of the Year and voted to the Pro Bowl after setting a franchise record with 296 total tackles. In his 11-year NFL career, Nobis went to five Pro Bowls, was an All-Pro selection twice, and was chosen for the NFL’s “All-Decade Team” for the 1960s. </p>
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<p id="fl1JZN">Tommy Nobis retired following the 1976 season, and was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1983. In 2004, “Mr. Falcon” joined quarterback Steve Bartkowski, running back William Andrews, and middle linebacker Jessie Tuggle as an inaugural member of the Falcons Ring of Honor. His jersey #60 is also one of four numbers currently retired by the Atlanta Falcons. More importantly, <a href="https://tommynobiscenter.org/">The Tommy Nobis Center</a> has helped more than 25,000 people with disabilities find and keep meaningful jobs in the community for more than 40 years. Sadly, Tommy Nobis passed away on December 13, 2017 at the age 74. </p>
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<p id="3j0DfA">I will admit, I’m not old enough to have seen Tommy Nobis play, but I’m fully aware of the impact he had on the Atlanta Falcons organization. From his success on the field, to the humanitarian he was off it, Tommy Nobis definitely earned the “Mr. Falcon” nickname. Nobis is another addition to the list of former players currently snubbed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which will hopefully change one day.</p>
<p id="yfPQiK">Well, that’s all for today’s Throwback Thursday. Share some of your favorite memories of Tommy Nobis aka Mr. Falcon below. As always, you can find me on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanBirchfield">@EvanBirchfield.</a> Thanks for reading, Falcoholic’s.</p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2019/1/31/18201413/throwback-thursday-tommy-mr-falcon-nobisEvan Birchfield2019-01-24T12:00:00-05:002019-01-24T12:00:00-05:00Throwback Thursday – Jessie “The Hammer” Tuggle
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<p><em>Reminisce about the Falcons of old </em></p> <p id="k21kh7">Hey Falcoholic’s, it’s me, Evan Birchfield. This new segment appropriately named “Throwback Thursday” will focus weekly on a former <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a>’ player and pay respect to what they did for the franchise. Whether you’ve been a fan since the inaugural season, or just became a fan recently, this series will highlight and hopefully give insight on players from the past. Without further ado, let’s get started. </p>
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<cite>Photo by George Rose/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="NayYz1">I wanted to kick this new series off with a very underrated player in the history of the Falcons’ franchise, linebacker Jessie “The Hammer” Tuggle. A lot of the newer fans may recognize the name due to Jessie being the father of current Atlanta Falcons DT Grady Jarrett. But long before Grady was eating feasting in the trenches, his father was laying the wood on the opposition. </p>
<p id="i8M6Lk">Tuggle is a Georgian through and through, as he was born in Griffin, GA where he attended high school and went on to play college ball for Valdosta State in Valdosta, GA. It only makes sense that after going undrafted in in 1987, he signed with his home-state Atlanta Falcons. Tuggle made the roster, which then led to a remarkable 14-year NFL career, all spent with the Falcons. </p>
<p id="N29anO">He was selected to his first <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> in 1992, and followed it up with more selections in 1994, 1995, 1997, and 1998. In the 1998 season, his loyalty payed off as the Falcons won the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfc-championship-game">NFC Championship</a> and went on to unfortunately lose <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> XXXIII against the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a>. Following the 2000 season, Tuggle called it a career and retired. The Falcons honored #58 with “Jessie Tuggle Day” during halftime of the Atlanta Falcons vs. <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> in 2002, and he was a part of the 2004 inaugural class of the exclusive Falcons’ Ring of Honor. In 2007, Tuggle was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.</p>
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<p id="vfZGLc">To this day, Tuggle still holds the franchise record for tackles (1,640) and fumble recovery touchdowns (5), which at the time of his retirement was an NFL Record. Growing up in the 90’s, Tuggle was the Falcons’ defense in my eyes. “The Hammer” was someone who had respect throughout the league, and rightfully so. We can only hope that someday Jessie Tuggle is rightfully honored by being voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.</p>
<p id="GK9HL4">Share some of your favorite memories of Jessie “The Hammer” Tuggle below! As always, you can find me on Twitter @EvanBirchfield. Thanks for reading, Falcoholics.</p>
https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2019/1/24/18193782/throwback-thursday-jessie-the-hammer-tuggleEvan Birchfield