2008 Ring of Honor Inductees
The Atlanta Falcons inducted defensive end Claude Humphrey and offensive tackle Mike Kenn into the team’s Ring of Honor during halftime festivities of Atlanta’s home contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, December 14, 2008. Fans voted for who should be inducted, with Humprhey and Kenn earning the top two amounts of votes.
Humphrey spent 10 seasons in a Falcons uniform from 1968-74, 76-78 and is currently the team’s all-time sack leader with 94.5. He was selected as the 1968 Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned six Pro Bowl honors throughout his career, tying Jeff Van Note for the most in team history. Humphrey’s five consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 1970-74 is also tied with current Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking and fellow inductee Mike Kenn for the most consecutive Pro Bowl appearances in team history. Humphrey was also voted the Falcons Player of the Year in 1976 after leading the team with 15.0 sacks, the second-highest total in a season in Falcons annals. In 127 career games, the Tennessee State alum recovered 11 fumbles, which ranks sixth in team history and also returned one fumble recovery for his only touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings on December 21, 1969.
Kenn was the 13th overall selection in the 1978 NFL Draft by Atlanta and spent his entire 17-year career in a Falcons uniform. He started every game he played in, setting a franchise record for the most career games played and the most career starts with 251. Kenn only missed nine games during his Atlanta tenure after beginning his career with 90 consecutive starts. The Michigan alum participated in six playoff games and was a member of an offensive line that allowed the lowest sack total (25) in a single season (1982) in team history. The Falcons amassed 30,455 total rushing yards and 188 rushing touchdowns during Kenn’s career with the team.
Humphrey and Kenn are the sixth and seventh players to be selected to Falcons Ring of Honor. They join running back Williams Andrews, quarterback Steve Bartkowski, linebacker Tommy Nobis and linebacker Jessie Tuggle who were inducted in 2004 and center Jeff Van Note who was inducted in 2006.
The Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor pays tribute to retired players who made significant contributions to the organization during their playing careers.
Offensive Tackle
Falcons offensive tackle Mike Kenn was a mainstay on the Falcons offensive line as the Michigan alum holds Falcons records in most games played and started (251) while ranking second in most seasons in Atlanta with 17. Kenn also posted a streak of 94 consecutive games played (1978-84) and 90 consecutive starts (Week 2 of 1978-1984). Kenn’s performance on the offensive line earned his five consecutive Pro Bowl selections (1980-84), falling one shy from the team record. During his tenure, he was the only Falcon to ever play in all of the club’s six playoff games (1978, ’80, ’82, ’91). Kenn paved the way for such Pro Bowlers as William Andrews, Steve Bartkowski, Chris Miller, Andre Rison, Gerald Riggs, Billy Johnson, Alfred Jenkins and John Settle. Kenn helped block for an Atlanta rushing attack that ranked in the top six in three years in franchise history including 2,405 yards in 1980 (sixth), 2,466 yards in 1985 (fifth) and 2,524 yards in 1986 (fourth). He had a particularly strong year in 1991 as he was named Associated Press, PFWA, Football News and Football Digest All-Pro. In that season, he allowed only one sack the entire year despite facing the league’s toughest pass rushers from the left side of the line. His dominating pass blocking helped the Falcons set a club mark by giving up only 31 sacks in 531 passing attempts. Kenn earned All-NFL honors in six seasons, All-NFC in five seasons and All-Pro in two campaigns by several different media outlets.
Defensive End
Humphrey was a first round pick by the Falcons in the 1968 NFL Draft and completed his career in Atlanta (1968-74, 76-78) as the all-time sack leader in franchise history with 94.5 for 757 yards. Humphrey also ranks second in Atlanta annals with 15.0 sacks in a single season (1976) and is tied for first in the most sacks in a game with 5.0 on two occasions). Humphrey is tied with Falcons offensive lineman Jeff Van Note for the most Pro Bowl appearances in franchise history with six, which includes five-consecutive honors from 1970-74. He also earned three All-Pro selections as a defensive end from 1971-73. In just his first season, Humphrey was selected as the Defensive Rookie of the Year after totaling 11.5 sacks. He went on to total five more campaigns with double-digit sack totals in a season to lead the Falcons in that category. Two seasons after his rookie campaign, Humphrey posted 12.0 sacks while earning All-Pro and All-NFC honors. In 1974, he finished the season with 12.5 sacks before an impressive campaign in 1976, where Humphrey was voted as the team MVP as he contributed with a career-high 15.0 sacks in a season. The Tennessee State graduate also finished his career with two interceptions, which were returned for 11 yards and nine fumble recoveries, one of which was returned 24 yards for a touchdown in 1969.
