Original Falcon ready for Super Bowl win

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — One of the oldest living Falcons players says it’s time for his former team to win the Super Bowl.

Bob Whitlow played on the 1966 expansion team. It was the Falcons first season, and Whitlow played center.

“I was 240-245 and I could bench 400. I was pretty strong,” he said.

Whitlow showed Channel 2's Dave Huddleston his old Falcons’ jersey. He played as number 51, a significant number to this year’s team as they head to Super Bowl LI.

The 80-year-old says he watched Sunday’s NFC Championship Game and was confident from the very beginning.

“I had a gut feeling that Green Bay had run their course. I felt the falcons were going to win. They played as well as I think they can play,” he said.

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Whitlow only played one season with the Falcons, but says it’s a year he will never forget.

“We won three games and knocked the St. Louis Cardinals out of the playoffs,” he said. “The fans, they were great fans. We sold out at Fulton County stadium. Every game was a sellout. People loved it."

Just like they love the current team.

Whitlow says even though the Patriots are favored, don't count out this Falcons team.

“They are on the upswing. They have been improving and getting better each week, and I think they have a real good chance."

Whitlow played nine seasons in the NFL. He currently lives in Cumming in Forsyth County with his family.

Cox Media Group