| No. 57 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Center | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1946-02-07)February 7, 1946 (age 79) South Orange, New Jersey, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 247 lb (112 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | St. Joseph Prep(Bardstown, Kentucky) | ||||||||
| College: | Kentucky | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1969: 11th round, 262nd pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Jeffrey Aloysius Van Note (born February 7, 1946[1]) is an American former professionalfootball player who was acenter for theAtlanta Falcons of theNational Football League (NFL) during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He playedcollege football for theKentucky Wildcats. The Falcons selected him in the 11th round of the1969 NFL draft.
Van Note played at theUniversity of Kentucky, where he was arunning back anddefensive end for theKentucky Wildcats football team from 1966 to 1968.
Van Note was drafted as alinebacker by theAtlanta Falcons in the 11th round—the 269th overall pick of the1969 NFL draft. During the 1969 season, he played minor league football with theAlabama (Huntsville) Hawks of theContinental Football League.
Van Note soon moved tocenter by Falcons head coachNorm Van Brocklin. Despite his modest draft status and lack of experience in 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 toMike Kenn. Van Note missed a mere four games in his entire NFL career.
In his final home game atAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium on December 14, 1986, the Falcons honored Van Note and presented him a57 Chevy.[2] 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 theGeorgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
After retiring from professional football, Van Note served ascolor commentator on the Atlanta Falcons and Kentucky Wildcats football broadcasts throughout 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 alongsideJoe McConnell as the color commentator for theTennessee Oilers in 1997.
Van Note gave up his commentator positions with both teams following the 2003 season, but was called back into regular duty whenGeorgia Tech football analystKim King was unable to call games and later died in the fall of 2004.
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.
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| Wild card / First round berths (8) | |
| Division championships (6) | |
| Conference championships (2) | |
| Ring of Honor | |
| Current league affiliations |
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