Editor’s note: As part of NFL’s Greatest Quarterback, fans will decide the best QB in each team’s history.
Steve Bartkowski: Bartkowski holds the Falcons’ franchise record for career passing yards, though that record may only stand for one more year. Matt Ryan is 4,513 yards behind.
Bartkowski was the first overall pick in the 1975 draft and started for Atlanta for the next 11 years. His best season came in 1980 when he threw for 3,544 yards with a league-leading 31 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. That year was the first of two Pro Bowl seasons for Bartkowski.
Chris Chandler: This University of Washington product is the lone quarterback to lead the Falcons to the Super Bowl. In 1998, the Falcons were 13-1 in games that Chandler started. The Falcons would go on to lose to the Broncos 34-19.
Chandler made two Pro Bowls with the Falcons. The Super Bowl year was Chandler’s best season by far in the NFL. He threw for 3,154 yards with 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. In his Falcons career, Atlanta had a 34-33 record.
Michael Vick: Vick was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 draft, but he never fully lived up his hype as a passer. Vick was an exceptional rusher with the Falcons, especially in 2006 when he became the first quarterback in NFL history to run for 1,000 yards. His 8.4 yards per carry were also an NFL record.
Vick led the Falcons to a 74-67 record from 2001 to 2006. He threw for 11,505 yards with 71 touchdowns and 52 interceptions.
Matt Ryan: Ryan was drafted No. 3 overall in 2008 and hasn’t missed a start since. He’s led the Falcons to a 56-22 record during his five seasons, and won his first playoff game in 2012 against the Seahawks.
Ryan’s best year came in 2012 when he completed 68.6 percent of his passes. He had 32 touchdowns to 14 interceptions with 4,719 yards through the air.
