The Atlanta Falcons drafted Steve Bartkowski with the first pick in the 1975 NFL draft out of California and he spent 11 of his 12 years playing in the black and red. Many older Atlanta Falcons fans use him as the benchmark for franchise quarterback play.
During his first four seasons with the Falcons, he would miss 18 games due to injuries because the Atlanta Falcons “weren’t good” and he spent “more time at the hospital recuperating from injuries my first three years than I did throwing touchdowns”
He was recently asked by Charean Williams from NBC Sports about Joe Burrow going to the Cincinnati Bengals and Bartkowski had this to say – “I know what it’s like to go to a bottom-feeder team.