This is kind of a big deal. It's not often that a team's first-ever player passes away. There's a lot of talk that perhaps he lost an opportunity to be in the Hall of Fame because he went to an expansion team back when expansion teams didn't get vaults of players thrown at them.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...aign=editorial
Former Falcons LB, 5-Time Pro Bowler Tommy Nobis Dies at Age 74
ADAM WELLS
DECEMBER 13, 2017
Former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Tommy Nobis died Wednesday at the age of 74.
Per CNN's Jill Martin, Nobis had been ill for an extended period of time.
Statement from Falcons owner Arthur Blank on the passing of Tommy Nobis:
pic.twitter.com/70l4ubFkFz
Nobis, the No. 1 overall in the 1966 NFL draft, was the Falcons' first-ever draft pick. He was named the Sporting News Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first season after being credited with 296 total tackles in 14 games.
From 1966-76, Nobis was named to the Pro Bowl five times, the All-Pro first team in 1967 and the NFL's All-Decade team for the 1960s.
The Falcons inducted Nobis into their Ring of Honor and retired his number 60 jersey in 2004. He was also inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.