Tommy Nobis anchored the Texas Longhorns’ defense during their first national championship run and set a rugged, hard-hitting standard as the inaugural draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons.
Football Bio
September 20, 1943 – Tommy Nobis was a former guard and linebacker from the University of Texas who played from 1963 to 1965.
As a sophomore, Nobis was a starter on the Longhorn team that won the University’s first National Championship in 1963. During his final two seasons, Nobis was an All-American. Tommy also won the Maxwell Award as the Nation’s best player, as well as the Outland Trophy for being the top interior lineman in the country.
In 1965, the Atlanta Falcons made Tommy their very first pick in franchise history. He played for the Falcons for 11 seasons and led the team in tackles in nine of them. He was named an All-Pro twice and played in 5 Pro Bowls. Both the Falcons and the University of Texas retired his number 60 jersey. The College Football Hall of Fame inducted Tommy Nobis in 1981.
Tommy Nobis defined the middle linebacker position for a generation, establishing an elite standard of defensive leadership that earned him enduring fame in both Austin and Atlanta.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981.
- Selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1966 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
- Won the Maxwell Award, Outland Trophy, and Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy in 1965.
- Anchored the Texas Longhorns to their first National Championship in 1963.
- Named a Consensus All-American in 1965 and First-team All-American in 1964.
- Earned NFL Rookie of the Year honors in 1966.
- Selected to five NFL Pro Bowls and named First-team All-Pro in 1967.
- Voted to the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team.
- His No. 60 jersey was retired by both the University of Texas and the Atlanta Falcons.
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