There are many legends for this franchise that could earn their place in the Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor down the line, but John Abraham was one of the most glaring omissions. No longer.
The Falcons announced on Friday that Abraham and Bill Fralic will both be inducted into the Ring of Honor . Abe will receive that honor on October 11, when the Falcons play the Ravens at home on Sunday Night Football. Fralic, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 56, will be inducted in Week 16 when the Falcons host the Buccaneers.
Abraham, of course, is well known to any Falcons fan who has exited their teen years. The Falcons traded for the star pass rusher, who wanted to get the hell off the New York Jets, for a first round pick in 2006. That ended up being an absolute steal, both because it was a late first rounder and because Abraham quickly became one of the greatest pass rushers in Falcons history. He holds the modern, official franchise record for sacks with 68.5—Claude Humphrey has more but the sack was not an official stat in his era—is second in quarterback hits with 115 behind Grady Jarrett, easily holds the team record for forced fumbles with 25, and holds the all-time franchise mark for sacks in a single season with 16.5 One of the most feared and disruptive pass rushers of his era, Abraham gave the Falcons a fearsome edge on defense that they've only enjoyed for short stretches since. He should be in the Hall of Fame.
Also if you can watch this without tearing up a little bit, you're tougher than I am.
It's a shame Fralic wasn't inducted while he was alive to enjoy it. Over eight seasons in Atlanta after the team made him the second overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft, Fralic was a two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler who appeared in 116 games (starting 115) and was one of the great guards of the 1980s and early 1990s. Fralic spent one year at the end of his career with the Detroit Lions and famously mulled a career with WCW—he appeared in WWE's 1986 battle royale at Wrestlemania, too—but then served as a Falcons radio commentator for three seasons in the mid-1990s. Chris Lindstrom is currently making his case to be considered the best guard in Falcons history, but Fralic currently holds that title.
Abe and Fralic will join quarterback Matt Ryan, running backs Warrick Dunn and Michael Turner, wide receiver Roddy White, center Todd McClure, cornerback Deion Sanders and owner Arthur Blank as inductees honored since 2010. Prior to that, the Falcons inducted quarterback Steve Bartkowski, running back William Andrews, cemter Jeff Van Note, tackle Mike Kenn, defensive lineman Claude Humphrey, and linebackers Jessie Tuggle and Tommy Nobis. Humphrey and Sanders are Hall of Famers and Ryan, Kenn, and Tuggle should be as well.
I'm happy to see two great Falcons get their due, and look forward to the induction ceremonies.
