The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is counting down the Top 50 players in Atlanta Falcons history during the franchise’s 50th anniversary season. No. 27 is punter John James.
Years played for Falcons: From 1972-81, John James was the punter for the Falcons and had one of the top legs in the NFL, getting plenty of opportunities to boot the ball while the Atlanta offense suffered. He garnered Pro Bowl honors three years in a row from 1975-77. He enjoyed a brief stint in Detroit before finishing his career with three seasons in Houston, retiring at the age of 35 after the 1984 season. The former Florida Gator began his kicking career coming on as a walk-on in 1969 and going undrafted in 1972 before the Falcons picked him up.
Jersey No.: 6
His impact on the team: Falcon fans saw more of James then they probably wanted to over his career, but he was a reliable factor in the special teams' game. From 1976-79, he punted over 100 times each season with an astronomical 109 in '79, five off the NFL all-time record of 114 set by Bob Parsons in 1981. James finished his career with an average of 40.6 yards per kick and led the league in both punts and yards four times.
On walking-on to Florida: "I watched the Gator Bowl game after the 1969 season and knew that (incoming) coach (Doug) Dickey was going to be needing a punter. I had tried out for the Gator golf team as a freshman, but that was the year of [Bob] Murphy, [Steve] Melynk, [John] Darr and company, which went on to win the national title. I always felt I could punt the football and the way I looked at it, I'd always regret it if I didn't make at least a try."
On playing the Cowboys in the playoffs in 1980: "He [Jerry Glanville] put [linebacker] Robert Pennywell and someone else on Randy White just to lay him out on every punt. So my first punt, I hit a great punt and I'm kind of watching it and here comes Ed "Too Tall" Jones. He just blindsides me – a legal hit, after the punt was gone and I was taking two steps to go down the field. And he's standing over me and he says, 'You guys lay off Danny White and we'll lay off of you.' I didn't tell the coaches. I said, 'I'll just be ready next time.' "
Where he is now: James, 66, is the father of four children; Helen, Scott, Matthew and Susanna, and a grandfather of five. In 1986, he held the position of executive director of Gator Boosters Inc., at the University of Florida and oversaw the booster fund-raising operation to fund athletic scholarships for Gator athletes. He stepped down from the position in 2012.
50: Chuck Smith
49: Michael Haynes
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
29: Greg Brezina
28: Chris Miller
27: John James
