INDIANAPOLIS — For the second consecutive year, the Falcons will be represented at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
A year after defensive back Deion Sanders was enshrined, former defensive stalwart Chris Doleman will join him Aug. 4 in Canton, Ohio.
While Doleman started and finished his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings, he played two seasons for the Falcons and helped them reach the playoffs in 1995, for just the fifth time in franchise history.
The Falcons went 7-9 in 1994 as Doleman contributed seven sacks in 14 games. In 1995, the team finished 9-7 and went to the playoffs. The Jeff George-led squad was eliminated by the Green Bay Packers 37-20.
“The time that I spent in Atlanta was great,” Doleman said Tuesday. “We hadn’t made the playoffs in a while, so to be a part of that was great. We had some tough times, but were able to fight through them.”
After starring at Pittsburgh, Doleman was the fourth player selected in the 1985 NFL draft, by the Minnesota Vikings. He played nine seasons with the Vikings before signing with the Falcons.
After the 1995 season, he went on to play three seasons with San Francisco and concluded his career in Minnesota in 1999.
He played 15 seasons in the NFL and had 150 1/2 sacks.
While his stay with the Falcons was short, it was memorable.
“The fans were always great to me, and I’ve made Atlanta my home,” said Doleman, who resides in Johns Creek. “What I enjoyed the most about Atlanta is that it’s a big city with a small-town feel.”
Doleman entered the NFL as a linebacker, but moved to defensive end in his second season. He had 10 or more sacks eight times in his career.
In 1989, he led the NFL with 21 sacks. He was a Pro Bowler eight times and was named to the all-decade team of the 1990s. He forced 45 fumbles and recovered 24.
Doleman still follows the game, but believes defenders have a much tougher time with some of the rule changes that tend to favor the offenses.
“There are fewer hit zones for the quarterback, and he can run out of the pocket and throw it away,” Doleman said. “You can’t intimidate the quarterback in the ways that we used to do back in the day. Now, it’s a totally different game, and you have to be very careful about how you get them down on the ground.”
Doleman, a native of Indianapolis, was in town visiting with family when he got the news Saturday.
“When I got off the phone we were very excited,” said Doleman, who said his son, Evan, will be his presenter. “When they called my name, I felt absolutely numb.”
Doleman will be inducted with defensive back Jack Butler, offensive lineman Dermontti Dawson, defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, running back Curtis Martin and offensive tackle Willie Roaf.
He will be the fourth player who played for the Falcons to be enshrined. Wide receiver Tommy McDonald played for the Falcons in 1967 and was inducted in 1998. Running back Eric Dickerson played with the Falcons in 1993 and was inducted in 1999.
“I always had the respect of my peers and my family,” Doleman said. “I played for God, family and friends. I never embarrassed anybody. I never wanted to put them in that position where I had to explain my actions.”
On the TV show announcing his selection, Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts told Doleman that he was now on a team that he couldn’t be cut from, be traded from or die from.
“The only thing bigger would be to be in God’s kingdom,” Doleman said. “I am totally blown away by this and totally humbled.”
