Jeff Van Note
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Aloysius Van Note (born February 7, 1946 in South Orange, New Jersey
), is a former American football
player who played his entire 18-year NFL career as a center for the Atlanta Falcons
from 1969 to 1986.
and defensive end
at the University of Kentucky
, Van Note was drafted as a linebacker
in the 11th Round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. During the 1969 season, Jeff played minor league football with the Alabama (Huntsville) Hawks of the Continental Football League.
Van Note was soon moved to center
by Falcons head coach Norm Van Brocklin
. Despite his modest draft status and lack of experience at the position, Van Note established himself as one of the finest centers in the NFL, making six Pro Bowls and helping the young Atlanta franchise to some of the greatest seasons in team history. His 18 year tenure with the Falcons is one of the 25 longest in NFL history and is the second longest while staying with the same team. He played in 246 games over this stretch, and his 225 games started as a Falcon is second in team history to Mike Kenn
. Van Note missed a mere four games in his entire NFL career.
The Falcons retired Van Note's number 57 on December 15, 1986, at halftime of his final home game at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
, also presenting him a 57 Chevy
prior to the game. He would also be voted by fans as the franchise's favorite player during the Falcons' 25th Anniversary season in 1991. Van Note would be inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
in 1999. Despite these honors, Van Note was conspicuously absent from the Falcons' inaugural Ring of Honor
in 2004.
, Van Note served as color commentator
on the Atlanta Falcons and University of Kentucky football broadcasts through the 1990s. Throughout this period, he would also frequently be heard on Atlanta airwaves as a sports-talk radio host.
Van Note also spent time alongside Joe McConnell as the color commentator for the Tennessee Oilers in 1997.
Van Note abdicated his commentator position with both teams following the 2003 season, but was called back into regular duty when Georgia Tech
football analyst Kim King
was unable to call games and later died in the fall of 2004. Van Note has served as color commentator for Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
(alongside play-by-play man Wes Durham
) from 2004 to the present.
Though no longer occupying the Falcons' play-by-play booth, he has continued to appear weekly on the Falcons' radio broadcasts, hosting a studio pre-game show and taking calls following the game.
Van Note called the University of Kentucky/Middle Tennessee State game with Tom Leach on UK radio in September 2008, filling in for regular commentator Jeff Piecoro.
South Orange, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 16,964 people, 5,522 households, and 3,766 families residing in the township. The population density was 5,945.3 people per square mile . There were 5,671 housing units at an average density of 1,987.5 per square mile...
), is a former American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who played his entire 18-year NFL career as a center for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 1969 to 1986.
NFL career
After finishing his career as an running backRunning back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
at the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
, Van Note was drafted as a linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
in the 11th Round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. During the 1969 season, Jeff played minor league football with the Alabama (Huntsville) Hawks of the Continental Football League.
Van Note was soon moved to center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
by Falcons head coach Norm Van Brocklin
Norm Van Brocklin
Norman Mack "Norm" Van Brocklin , nicknamed "The Dutchman", was an American football player and coach. He was also a first rate punter in college and in the NFL...
. Despite his modest draft status and lack of experience at the position, Van Note established himself as one of the finest centers in the NFL, making six Pro Bowls and helping the young Atlanta franchise to some of the greatest seasons in team history. His 18 year tenure with the Falcons is one of the 25 longest in NFL history and is the second longest while staying with the same team. He played in 246 games over this stretch, and his 225 games started as a Falcon is second in team history to Mike Kenn
Mike Kenn
Michael Lee Kenn is a former American football player who was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1st round of the 1978 NFL Draft. A 6'7", 275-lb. offensive tackle from the University of Michigan, Kenn played his entire 17-year NFL career with the Falcons from 1978 to 1994. He is notable for...
. Van Note missed a mere four games in his entire NFL career.
The Falcons retired Van Note's number 57 on December 15, 1986, at halftime of his final home game at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, often shortened to "Fulton County Stadium," was a multi-purpose stadium that formerly stood in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.-History:...
, also presenting him a 57 Chevy
57 Chevy
The 1957 Chevrolet is an automobile which was introduced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors in September, 1956. It was available in three series models: the upscale Bel Air, the mid-range "two-ten", and the "one-fifty". A two-door station wagon, the Nomad was produced as a Bel Air model....
prior to the game. He would also be voted by fans as the franchise's favorite player during the Falcons' 25th Anniversary season in 1991. Van Note would be inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame is located in Macon, Georgia. It is the largest state sports hall of fame in America at .-Exhibitions:The Hall of Fame houses over of exhibit space broken down into sections including Hall of Fame Inductees, High School, collegiate sports, Olympic, Paralympic,...
in 1999. Despite these honors, Van Note was conspicuously absent from the Falcons' inaugural Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
in 2004.
Broadcasting career
After retiring from the National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, Van Note served as color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
on the Atlanta Falcons and University of Kentucky football broadcasts through the 1990s. Throughout this period, he would also frequently be heard on Atlanta airwaves as a sports-talk radio host.
Van Note also spent time alongside Joe McConnell as the color commentator for the Tennessee Oilers in 1997.
Van Note abdicated his commentator position with both teams following the 2003 season, but was called back into regular duty when Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
football analyst Kim King
Kim King
D. Kimbrough King was Georgia Tech's starting quarterback for three years beginning in 1965. During his career, he led the team in 712 plays, completing 243 passes for 2763 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 506 yards, placing him in Tech's all-time top 10 quarterbacks...
was unable to call games and later died in the fall of 2004. Van Note has served as color commentator for Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
(alongside play-by-play man Wes Durham
Wes Durham
Dallas Wesley "Wes" Durham is an American sportscaster. He has been the radio play-by-play announcer for Georgia Tech football, men's basketball and baseball teams since the start of the 1995-1996 season, and is known as "The Voice of the Yellow Jackets." He is also Georgia Tech's Director of...
) from 2004 to the present.
Though no longer occupying the Falcons' play-by-play booth, he has continued to appear weekly on the Falcons' radio broadcasts, hosting a studio pre-game show and taking calls following the game.
Van Note called the University of Kentucky/Middle Tennessee State game with Tom Leach on UK radio in September 2008, filling in for regular commentator Jeff Piecoro.
Falcons Ring of Honor
Jeff Van Note was inducted into the Falcons Ring of Honor on October 1, 2006. Van Note was selected by fan vote and joined the four inaugural members of the Ring of Honor, Tommy Nobis, Steve Bartkowski, William Andrews, and Jessie Tuggle. The Falcons Ring of Honor was established in 2004 to honor retired players who made significant contributions to the Falcons during their playing careers. Many long time Falcons fans were surprised that Van Note was not among the inaugural inductees, but are pleased that he has now received this well-deserved honor.Honors
- All-NFC (UPI) - 1980
- 6 time Pro-Bowler - 1974-75, 1979–82
- 2nd Team All-Pro (APAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
) - 1982 - Induction into the American Football Association's Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame - 1984
- Participant in the collegiate Blue-Gray All-Star game
- Falcons Ring of Honor - 2006