McKay makes the Hall of Fame case for Tommy Nobis

“Mr. Falcon,” Tommy Nobis, played in Atlanta from 1966-76. Nobis was Atlanta’s No. 1 pick in the NFL draft out of Texas. With the Texas Longhorns (1963–1965), Nobis averaged nearly 20 tackles a game. He won the Outland Trophy for the best lineman in the country as a senior. In Atlanta, Nobis quickly became the face of the franchise. Nobis won Rookie of the Year and made the Pro Bowl in 1966. He averaged close to 18 tackles a game his first year. Nobis made five Pro Bowl teams during an 11-year car

Falcons president and chief executive officer Rich McKay wrote a letter to Hall of Fame voters and fans in support of former Falcons linebacker Tommy Nobis.

The Hall of Fame is making plans for a 2020 Centennial Class that will include 20 inductees, including 10 seniors, five modern era candidates, three contributors and two coaches.

The hall has not stated how or when this class will be chosen. There will be a blue-ribbon panel, according to Clark Judge of the Talk of Fame Network. It’s unclear who will be on the panel and how it will be selected.

“It is time to rightfully acknowledge, appreciate, and celebrate one of the greatest to ever play the game: the late Tommy Nobis,” McKay writes. “We can — we should — do that by immortalizing Nobis with a bronze bust at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.”

McKay then goes on to address Nobis’ career and why he should be enshrined.

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