Nearly three decades before taking college football by storm, Deion Sanders was busy rocking in the NFL. The Falcons drafted him in the first round (fifth player overall) in 1989 and right from his rookie year he showed people that he was in the world of football to stay. In his first game with the Falcons, he returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown against the Rams. While his team lost the game (31-21), it was just the start of Prime Time’s Hall of Fame-worthy career.

Sanders stayed with the Falcons till 1993 and etched his name into their history. So, would it be surprising to know he was recognized as the Atlanta Falcons’ Mount Rushmore?

Deion Sanders didn’t just play for the team; He also played against the Falcons!

The NFL Throwback released a YouTube video titled ‘Every Team’s Mount Rushmore’. As the four glorious names of the Falcons were announced, it was no surprise to witness the Super Bowl LI runner-up Matt Ryan, the 7 x Pro Bowl WR Julio Jones, and the 4x Pro Bowler Michael Vick on the list. However, it was the 2x Super Bowl winner, Deion Sanders, whose name received a lot of attention.

The video stated, “Prime Time was sensational from the moment he took the field. His first ever touch resulted in a touchdown. Sanders notched 24 picks and scored 10 total touchdowns as a corner and return man in five seasons with Atlanta, He helped the Falcons make the playoffs in 1991 and was named All-Pro twice.”

Nobody could catch Prime Time; nobody could outrun him, and it was near impossible for him to not hit the shuffle every time he scored. If the CB saw the ball coming his way, it wouldn’t take him long to snatch the ball and run for a touchdown either. During his Atlanta days, the then-young athlete recorded 24 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles, and 10 total touchdowns.

The prolific CB helped the Falcons reach the playoffs in 1991 and got the 2x All-Pro bestowed upon him. But the stalwart didn’t really show his full potential till the 1993 season when he started tackling other players, recording a total of 27 tackles in his last year with the Falcons.

It was really ‘Prime Time’ when Deion Sanders took over the field. The only thing the crowd could do was ride the shockwaves that came out of Deion Sanders’ electric and dynamic plays. Sanders set 12 club records in his time with the birds. The records are as follows:

Additionally, Sanders juggled two sports at once. He also played for the Atlanta Braves in MLB. It would be hard not to recall his famous attempt at playing two sports in one day on October 11, 1992. Although he ended up not playing for the Braves that day, his bold adventure captured attention and brought more spotlight to him as a star beyond the field.

But coming back to the Falcons, playing for them was not his only contribution. After he switched teams, there were times when Sanders played against the team that drafted him. There is one game in particular that comes to mind. Sanders was with the San Francisco 49ers as he went against the Falcons. Tensions were high and a slap fight started between Sanders and WR Andre Rison, which sports officials had to break. Clearly, Sanders’s presence pushed his former team to play harder.

While Sanders has had an impactful run with the Falcons, there were other note-worthy players inducted by the NFL as the team’s Mt. Rushmore and other honorable mentions.

The complete Mount Rushmore of Atlanta Falcons and other impactful players

Starting the list, we have Julio Jones. As the narrator of the video mentioned, he was “arguably the greatest player in franchise history.” Jones dominated the Falcons for a decade. Not only did he make the First Team All-Pro selection two times, but he was also chosen for the Pro Bowl seven times. Additionally, the former wide receiver impressively held the leading position for NFL receiving yards in 2015 and 2018. Jones was indeed a gifted playmaker with 300 yards in a single game.

Matt Ryan, as the NFL Throwback video claimed, is “the most impactful.” Consistently among the top 10 passers in the league over his 14-year Falcon career, he bagged 2016 NFL MVP, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, 4x Pro Bowl Selection, 2016 NFL passer rating leader, and more. “No quarterback in team history has more passing yards, touchdowns, or wins.”

Michael Vick, next on the list, “retired as the greatest running QB in the league.” His time with the Falcons witnessed them buzzing with energy as he became the first quarterback with 1000 rushing yards in a season. Additionally, he won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award and amassed 4x Pro Bowl selections.

While not as the faces of the Falcons’ Mount Rushmore, two individuals also received the due credit for electrifying the Atlanta city and influencing the coming generations. These were Mike Kenn and Claude Humphrey.

“The man the Falcons count on the most for the big play is number 87, Claude Humphrey. He was named the Falcon of the Year by his teammate,” that is how more often than not the 1968 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year was introduced. Humphrey has 5x First-team All-Pro selections and 6x Pro Bowl selections to his name. Meanwhile, Mike Kenn started in 251 career games, the fifth highest by any offensive lineman, and made 5x Pro Bowls during his 17-year-long Falcons tenure. 

Deion Sanders, Mike Kenn, and Claude Humphrey have also been included in the Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor. Ryan is scheduled to join the esteemed list in 2024. Meanwhile, Sanders and Humphrey are also inducted into the Atlanta Falcons Hall of Fame.

As Deion Sanders attempts to write history with the Colorado Buffs, his legacy at the Falcons remains untouched, and the recent honor further points to the impact he had in Atlanta in just four years.