Atlanta Falcons: All-Time Team
By John Buhler
Nov 30, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view of the stadium during the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Left Tackle: Mike Kenn (1978-94)
If there is one player that has long been a snub from Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement it is franchise left tackle Mike Kenn. Kenn came to Atlanta as the 18th overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft and played 17 years of Hall of Fame worthy football as the Atlanta Falcons’ premier blind side protector.
Kenn made it to five Pro Bowls (1980-84) and was an All-Pro twice in 1980 and in 1981. Though the Atlanta Falcons only made it to the NFC Playoffs three times in his 17-year NFL career, what Mike Kenn had to do playing left tackle for many bad teams in Atlanta was simply unreasonable, yet he succeeded.
Often times, the Atlanta Falcons would fall behind early, sometimes by three or four scores and the team would have to abandon the running game entirely to try to play comeback against the pass. That meant that the league’s premier pass rushers would go against Kenn play after play, sometimes getting to the quarterback, but most times not.
The only reason Mike Kenn isn’t already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is that he played for some bad Atlanta Falcons teams during his NFL career and wins tend to high dominance at a non-skill position like left tackle. In this all-time Atlanta Falcons team, I would want no one other than prime Mike Kenn to protect Matt Ryan’s blind side. Get Mike Kenn into Canton!
Next: Left Guard