Fansided

30 biggest Hall of Fame snubs in NFL history

By Jarrett Bailey

Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Falcons linebacker Tommy Nobis during a 20-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on December 10, 1972 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Tommy Nobis during a 20-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on December 10, 1972 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

27. Tommy Nobis

The Falcons of the late 1960s and 1970s were really bad, but they fielded some noteworthy defenses in that span. “The Grits Blitz” was statistically one of the best defenses of all time, but the Falcons offense was so terrible that the Falcons couldn’t win games, even when they held their opponents to low scores.

Nobis was one of the best players on the Falcons roster for a decade. He was drafted first overall by the Falcons in the 1966 NFL Draft and was a Pro Bowler as a rookie. In his second season, he was an All-pro as he became one of the NFL’s best young defenders. He made his third consecutive Pro Bowl in 1968.

As the decade turned, Nobis was still one of the best inside linebackers in the NFL, as he made his fourth Pro Bowl in 1970. The Falcons were a bad team, but Nobis was one of their few standouts.He retired as a five-time Pro Bowl selection and was named an All-Pro one time. He would go on to be known as “Mr. Falcon” for being the franchise’s first great player. His resume is as good, and in some cases better, than several players at his position that are already in the Hall of Fame.

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