On July 2nd, Texas Tech Athletics announced that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will have his logo featured on the Red Raiders’ field during the season.
Once you win three Super Bowls and go to six straight conference championship games, any distinction is warranted, but this feels like a special case. Mahomes becomes the first player to have their logo featured on a football field, and it got me thinking: Are there any Atlanta Falcons who deserve to have their logo featured in Mercedes-Benz Stadium? As it turns out, I have found four that could stake a claim to have their logos featured alongside the Falcons logo.
Matt Ryan, Quarterback (2008-2021)
Let’s go ahead and get the easy one out of the way. Matt Ryan will be remembered as the greatest quarterback who played for the Falcons. He leads Atlanta in passing yards, passing touchdowns, passer rating, completion percentage and has the most wins, and it’s not particularly close.
The only question would be what would Ryan’s logo look like? Is it a play on his “Matty Ice” moniker? Do we put down his initials in a couple of ice cubes? We’ll figure it out.
Julio Jones, Wide Receiver (2011-2020)
Explosiveness, power, speed, agility and big play ability. Julio Jones brought all of that and more to the Falcons when he was selected by Atlanta 6th overall in the 2011 NFL draft. His departure may have been bittersweet, but if we’re talking players who deserve their logos to be on that field, I don’t see how the Jet doesn’t make the list.
Jamal Anderson, Running Back (1994-2001)
If we’re talking about logos, look no further than the original Dirty Bird himself. Jamal Anderson played every snap of his NFL career in the red and black, and nobody takes more pride in being a Falcon than Anderson has. As far as a logo goes, there has to be a way to get a Dirty Bird or something in there with a “J.A.” integrated. Again, we’ll figure it out.
Jessie Tuggle, Linebacker (1987-2000)
Nobody is more deserving to be featured next to the Falcons logo than The Hammer Jessie Tuggle. Over 1800 total tackles in his 14-year career, all with Atlanta, Tuggle exuded a toughness and grit that the city could rally around, even in the worst times.