Jeff Van Note 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 . NFL career . After finishing his career as an running back 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 . Broadcasting career . After retiring from the National Football League , 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 . 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 .