Top 50 Falcons: No. 30, Don Smith

Top 50 Falcons: No. 30, Don Smith

Top 50 Falcons: No. 30, Don Smith

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is counting down the Top 50 players in Atlanta Falcons history during the franchise’s 50th anniversary season. No. 30 nose tackle Don Smith.

Years played for Falcons: Don Smith was selected 17th overall in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft out of the University of Miami and played six years with Atlanta. Though he never made a single Pro Bowl, Smith is regarded as one of the best Falcons to ever line up in the trenches defensively.

Jersey No.: 65

Falcons' defensive lineman Don Smith reaches for a lose ball by Saints quarterback Don Smith. (AJC File)

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His impact on the team: Smith recorded 38.5 sacks as a Falcon and ranks in the top ten all-time in franchise history. Jerry Glanville, who was the team's defensive coordinator when Smith was on the team, said the former Hurricanes star was perhaps the best nose guard that ever played for him. From Smith's time in Atlanta spanning 1979 to 1984, the Falcons made two playoff appearances. He was a part of the 1980 team which went 12-4 and captured the franchise's first ever division title. In 1982's strike shortened season, he once again made it to the playoffs with the Falcons going 5-4. Smith never won a playoff game with Atlanta however. He spent three more seasons in the NFL, two coming in Buffalo and his last in 1987 with the New York Jets before retiring.

On meeting head coach Leeman Bennett for the first time: "During the [celebration of getting drafted] party, I pinched my fingers in the back of a door jam. So I had to meet Leeman Bennett, our new coach, with bloody fingers all wrapped up and I lost a fingernail. So he figured his new number one draft pick had injured himself somehow already."

On playing for Glanville: "He was always a very enthusiastic guy. Whenever we went out to practice, Jerry was always hollering and smiling and brought that level of intensity and enthusiasm that even if you were a little low that day, just listening to Jerry will pick you up."

Where he is now: Now 58, Smith lives in the Tampa area with his wife, who is from Roswell. He works with heavy-duty truck lifts along with former teammate Jeff Merrow and Merrow's brother Dave. The Merrow's control the Georgia area while Smith manages the Florida region.

Top 50 Falcons Countdown

50: Chuck Smith

49: Michael Haynes

48: Jonathan Babineaux

47: John Zook

46: Ken Reaves

45: Lynn Cain

44: Justin Blalock

43: Bobby Butler

42: Tim Mazzetti

41: Buddy Curry

40: Scott Case

39: Jeff Merrow

38: Elbert Shelley

37: Matt Bryant

36: Alge Crumpler

35: Michael Turner

34: Ray Buchanan

33: Chris Hinton

32: Terance Mathis

31: Devin Hester

30: Don Smith