The Atlanta Falcons have been around since 1966, and there have been a ton of receivers who have suited up for the Dirty Birds. Some have been more productive than others, forever putting their mark on Falcons history.
Wide receiver is one of the most dynamic positions in the league, as they play a big role in the offense. Yet each era is different. Some receivers were playing in pass-happy offenses, while others had limited opportunities but made the best out of them. The NFL's huge shift toward throwing the ball has made comparing receivers across eras tricky business. A 1,000-yard season now doesn't mean nearly as much as it used to.
So when we're adjusting for era to rank the five best Falcons wide receivers of all time, it's important to keep in mind things like how run- or pass-heavy an offense was, who was throwing the ball to these receivers, and how well they stacked up among their peers. Of course, playing in the modern era doesn't eliminate a receiver's greatness, as is clear with the first name on the list.
1. Julio Jones, WR (2011-2020)
Jones was selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and was one of the best playmakers in the league during his time with the Falcons. He spent 10 seasons in Atlanta, and while he was there, he was a seven-time Pro Bowler, two-time First Team All-Pro, and three-time Second Team All-Pro.
Over 135 career games, Jones ranks first in team history in catches (848), receiving yards (12,896), and touchdowns (60). In eight seasons, the Alabama product has gone over 1,000 receiving yards, providing them with a true No. 1 WR.
Not only is he 6-foot-3 and weighed 220 pounds, but he also ran a 4.39 40-yard dash. Jones was a physical freak, but also played in the most pass-happy era of Falcons quarterbacks. Between the 2010-2021 seasons, Ryan had the most passing attempts in Falcons history.
In eight seasons when Jones was with the Falcons, Ryan had at least 566 passing attempts. During that decade, Atlanta made it a priority to air the ball out, and Jones was the go-to option. In their pass-happy offense, Jones was the main benefactor. Between 2011 and 2020, the Alabama product saw at least 120 targets in seven seasons. The Falcons weren't hiding how much they wanted to get him involved, and he answered the call the majority of the time.
And his numbers in Atlanta show that he was the all-time Falcons great at the position.
2. Roddy White, WR (2005-2015)
Prior to Jones taking the title as the best receiver in team history, White had that role for a short time. The UAB product had an underwhelming start to his career for the first two years before taking off in his third season. During the 2005 and 2006 seasons, the Falcons had Michael Vick as their starter. He was an electric dual threat who used his legs as a consistent weapon.
In those two seasons, Vick completed 56% or lower on his throws while rushing for at least 597 yards on the ground. The passing opportunities were scarce, limiting White's chances. That changed during the 2007 season, when the Falcons started the trio of Joey Harrington, Chris Redman, and Byron Leftwich at quarterback.
In 2007, they threw 555 total passes, which was a jump from 416 (2006) and 451 (2005). And as soon as the Falcons started throwing the ball more, White increased his production. It also helps that Ryan took over under center, as he helped spearhead the change in the offensive approach.
As they threw the ball around the yard more, it gave White more chances to make plays, and he took full advantage. He was there in the beginning stages of the increased Falcons aerial attack and answered the call. His ability to make plays in the air certainly had an impact on why they dropped back to throw the ball more.
Between 2007-2012, he recorded six straight 1,000-yard seasons, with four Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro (2010) during that stretch. He spent his entire 10-year career with the Dirty Birds and was one of the best Falcons of all time.
White ranks second in team history in receptions (808) and receiving yards (10,863) with a franchise-best 63 receiving touchdowns. He was a sure-handed pass catcher who will be forever remembered in the fans' hearts for his reliability.
3. Terance Mathis, WR (1994-2001)
Mathis signed with the Falcons as a free agent ahead of the 1994 season after spending the first four years with the New York Jets. Upon arrival, Mathis developed into a quality pass catcher for this era of Falcons football. Atlanta wasn't afraid to sling the rock around the field when Mathis was there, as he caught passes from Jeff George, Chris Chandler, Tony Graziani, Steve DeBerg, Danny Kanell, Michael Vick, Doug Johnson, and Kurt Kittner.
Mathis was known for his smooth route running and ability to create separation from defenders. During his Falcons tenure, he ranked third in team history in receiving yards (7,349) and touchdowns (57). Mathis also earned a Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro during the 1994 season, where he had career-highs in receiving yards (1,342) and receiving touchdowns (11).
The Falcons ranked No. 3 in the NFL in pass attempts when Mathis made the Pro Bowl in 1994, but by the final three years of his tenure, they ranked 25th, 18th and 23rd. Despite playing in a Falcons era that wasn't exactly known for aerial attacks, Mathis was a dynamic weapon.
The fact that he was that productive while catching passes from eight different quarterbacks highlights how versatile and trustworthy he was. The Falcons leaned on him, and he made the team look smart for doing so. He went over 1,000 receiving yards four times in his eight seasons with Atlanta. It's also worth noting that Mathis signed with the Falcons as a free agent, and they made it a priority to make him a featured pass catcher.
4. Andre Rison, WR (1990-1994)
Rison was traded to the Falcons during the 1990 offseason and immediately became a focal point for the offense. For the first four seasons with Atlanta, Rison made the Pro Bowl, while being a two-time First-Team All-Pro.
He was a touchdown machine, scoring 10-plus touchdowns between 1990-1993. Having that kind of playmaker during the early '90s was electric and helped the Falcons have one of the best receivers in the league at that time. Most teams were more run-heavy and leaned on that aspect for their offense, but Rison allowed the Falcons to change that approach.
While he was in Atlanta, Rison was consistently atop league leaderboards in receiving yards and catches. He had similar numbers to Hall of Famers like Jerry Rice, Michael Irvin, Tim Brown, and Sterling Sharpe. The list of NFL receiving leaders from 1990 through 1993 really highlights just how overlooked Rison has become these days:
Player | Receiving Yards | Receptions | Receiving TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
Jerry Rice | 5,412 | 362 | 52 |
Sterling Sharpe | 4,801 | 356 | 34 |
Michael Irvin | 4,662 | 279 | 27 |
Andre Rison | 4,545 | 342 | 48 |
Gary Clark | 4,182 | 272 | 27 |
That shows how talented and reliable he was. It's not easy to put up stats similar to several Hall of Famers, but Rison was that good in an era that had multiple superstar receivers.
Rison ranks fourth in team history in total touchdowns (56), with the fourth-most catches (423) and fifth-most receiving yards (5,633) in Falcons history. The Michigan State product left his mark in team history and is one of the best Falcons WRs ever. Although he left the Falcons for bigger contract with the Cleveland Browns, he was never able to recapture that same success elsewhere.
5. Alfred Jenkins, WR (1975-1983)
Jenkins joined the Falcons back in 1975, spending his entire nine-year career with them. That era of football is vastly different from the game that's happening now, yet he was still a productive playmaker for Atlanta.
During the 70s and early 80s, teams were leaning on the ground attack more than ever. It was a rare feat for players to go over 1,000 receiving yards, and Jenkins accomplished that twice with Atlanta.
During his Falcons career, he finished fourth in team history in receiving yards (6,267) and fifth in receiving touchdowns (40). He also averaged 17.4 yards per reception, highlighting that he was a deep threat playmaker before teams were consistently throwing downfield. You can also see the impact on the Falcons' play-calling that came with Jenkins' arrival. The franchise's seven lowest single-season pass attempt totals include five of the seven seasons that came before his debut.
- 1982: 275
- 1969: 282
- 1971: 285
- 1972: 296
- 1977: 297
- 1973: 320
- 1968: 326
That just shows how effective he was and is one of the best Falcons of all time. Jenkins was a two-time Pro Bowler, First-Team All-Pro, NFL receiving touchdowns co-leader (1981), and NFL receiving yards leader (1981) with Atlanta. He's yet another receiver who will go down in history as one of the best Falcons receivers ever. Jenkins is 17th in team history in points scored (240), and that's another reason to give him praise because he played in an era that hasn't been known for high scoring and potent pass catchers. Yet that's something that Jenkins was able to provide.