Tommy Nobis named finalist to join Pro Football Hall of Fame

On3 imageby:Joe Cook07/28/22

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Tommy Nobis, a key part of the beginning of Darrell K Royal’s Texas Longhorns dynasty of the 1960s and one of the best defensive players of his time in the college and pro ranks, was named a finalist in the Seniors category for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2023 class. Members of the Seniors category played their final football game prior to the 1996 season.

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Nobis was selected No. 1 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1966 draft. He was also picked No. 5 overall by the Houston Oilers in the 1966 AFL draft, but elected to sign with Atlanta and become one of the cornerstones of the novel franchise, eventually earning the moniker “Mr. Falcon.”

In 11 seasons with the Falcons, Nobis was named the 1966 rookie of the year, a five-time Pro Bowler, a first-team All-Pro in 1967, and a second-team All-Pro in 1968. His exploits earned him a spot on the 1960s All-Decade team as selected by Pro Football Hall of Fame voters at the conclusion of the decade.

He was one of the first members of the Falcons Ring of Honor, and his No. 60 was retired by the franchise in 2004. He is a member of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

Prior to his professional career, Nobis was one of the most fearsome two-way players in the college football ranks. He helped Texas win the program’s first national championship in 1963, and eventually earned consensus All-American honors in 1965. That same year, he won the Maxwell Award and Outland Trophy.

His No. 60, long revered as the jersey number associated with defensive excellence at the University of Texas, was retired by the school in 2008 but has been re-issued on occasion. Nobis passed away in 2017 at the age of 74.

The other 23 finalists for the class of 2023 announced Thursday by the Pro Football Hall of Fame include Ken Anderson, Maxie Baughan, Randy Gradishar, Chuck Howley, Cecil Isbell, Joe Klecko, Bob Kuechenberg, Eddie Meador, Ken Riley, Sterling Sharpe, Everson Walls, Roone Arledge, Don Coryell, Mike Holmgren, Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Robert Kraft, Art Modell, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Art Rooney Jr., Mike Shanahan, Clark Shaughnessy, and John Wooten.

Five Texas Longhorns have been selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including Earl Campbell, Bobby Dillon, Tom Landry, Bobby Layne, and Tex Schramm.

The 12-person Seniors Committee will meet Aug. 16, and each committee member will discuss one finalist in detail. The committee’s final vote will send three Seniors to the full 49-person Selection Committee for consideration at its annual meeting in early 2023; each of those three could be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame at that meeting, per release.

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