This is a list of my favorite Falcons of all-time. These are not necessarily the best statistically or players who achieved the most awards. These are just the my favorites.
Not bad for a Jets cast-off. In 4 years with the Jets Mathis had 46 receptions and 3 touchdowns. The year after he was acquired by the Falcons, the former Redan HS star had 111 receptions to go with 11 TDs and he made the Pro Bowl too.
The thing I liked about Mathis besides being an absolute steal was he was just very workman like in his approach to the game. He wasn’t particularly physically imposing or fast or shifty. But he was quick, dependable and precise.
And while we were all fearing the big, bad 15-1 Vikings, the kid from Stone Mountain didn’t shrink from the spotlight. In the 1999 NFC Championship game vs the Vikings, one of the greatest games in Falcons history, Mathis had 6 receptions for 73 yards and 2 TDs, the 2nd tied the score at 27-27 with :57 left to force overtime.
