One of the more perplexing storylines of the Falcons’ tumultuous past few years was Julio Jones’ departure from Atlanta.
With a new regime in charge, there was some uncertainty about the direction Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenot would take the organization with aging, overpaid veterans like Matt Ryan and Julio Jones on bloated contracts.
Eventually, the Falcons made Kyle Pitts the highest-drafted tight end in league history. He would join Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones, giving Matt Ryan yet another dangerous weapon to throw the ball to. The decision signaled to the rest of the league that they’d try to win football games, maximizing Ryan’s twilight years.
Unfortunately, we never got to see that trio of pass catchers. A couple of months after the NFL draft, the phone call heard around the world happened. Live on Fox Sports’ Undisputed, Shannon Sharpe called Julio Jones, leading one of the greatest Falcons of all time to say, “Oh, I’m out of there.”
It sparked outrage among the fan base. Some believed it was stage, but regardless, irreparable damage was done. Eventually, the Falcons traded him to the Titans, and it ended the Julio Jones era in Atlanta. Even though it was years ago, Falcons fans are still fired up about the entire situation, but so is Arthur Blank, apparently.
The Falcons allowed Emory Jones, a recent free agent signing, to wear Jones’ #11, which obviously sparked a fierce reaction from the fan base.
WTF are we doing? https://t.co/OQV1REjxTc
— Saivion Mixson (@saivionmixson) December 27, 2024
WHAT THE FUCK ARE YALL DOING @AtlantaFalcons https://t.co/iugrE7GH8A
— JBen (@JMB_CU16) December 27, 2024
Nobody goin to say anything https://t.co/nJiDiJynlQ
— SportsTalkATL.com (@SportsTalkATL) December 27, 2024
I’m dead serious someone needs to be fired for this https://t.co/4zJSvBtRHq
— Carter Donnick (@CDonnick1) December 27, 2024
Some speculate that there’s still a rift between Arthur Blank, Rich McKay, the organization and Julio Jones. I wouldn’t be shocked if fans were overreacting, but I also wouldn’t be stunned if there was still beef.
He’s arguably the greatest player in franchise history. Though he’s a receiver, and quarterbacks will always be held in higher regard, Julio Jones is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and Matt Ryan may never get in.
Of course, you probably don’t get Julio Jones without Matt Ryan, but the point remains. He’ll go into Canton as a Falcon. Blank got into contract negotiations with Jones, giving in to his demands, so the club’s owner was probably hurt by Jones’ phone call and forceful exit from Atlanta.
Business is business, though. Falcons fans can be hurt about #11 going to someone as inconsequential as Emory Jones, but Julio Jones did embarrass everyone on national television.
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