Atlanta Falcons: All-Time Team

Cornerback: Deion Sanders (1989-93)

There has never been a more dynamic football player to play for the Atlanta Falcons than the electrifying cornerback and kick returner Deion Sanders. Prime Time came to the Atlanta Falcons as the fifth overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft out of Florida State.

In five years with Atlanta, Sanders made three of his eight career Pro Bowls (1991-93) and two of his six All-Pro teams (1992-93). While he is just as revered in Dallas as he is in Atlanta, the Falcons were proud to claim him as their first ever Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee that spent significant time with Atlanta. Sanders earned enshrinement in 2011 after his 13-year NFL career spanning 16 years with five NFL teams.

Prime Time had 24 of his 53 career interceptions, three of his nine career pick sixes, and six of his 13 career fumble recoveries. Until Devin Hester broke his record in 2014, Deion Sanders was the most prolific return man in NFL history. Prime Time was one of the most explosive defensive playmakers and one of the league’s greatest shutdown cornerbacks during his Hall of Fame career.

Though his time in Atlanta was an abbreviated stint, Deion Sanders became the gold standard for generations of players the importance and the pride that comes from being a shutdown defensive back. While he won both of his Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, there is a group of fans that believe that Sanders did his best work in Atlanta Falcons uniform. Sanders would anchor this All-Time Team’s secondary in Atlanta without question.

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