June Jones

Michael Penix Jr. has already eclipsed June Jones's entire Falcons tenure—923 yards, 3 TDs in 5 starts—with his cannon arm and poise, while Jones was a backup wildcard in the '70s grit era, spotting Steve Bartkowski amid a defense-first Falcons squad. Penix thrives in pass-happy Atlanta; Jones was a run-n-shoot pioneer who never got the keys long enough to build that legacy.

Nah, June Jones ain't in Canton—his 923 yards and 3 TDs over four Falcons seasons as a spot-starter don't scream Hall of Fame, even if he later coached up some wild offenses. Think of him as the ultimate trivia answer, not a bust in gold.

In 2026, June Jones keeps grinding in coaching circles, popping up at camps and clinics, dishing wisdom from his run-n-shoot days—Portland State stardom to Falcons OC magic. No big broadcasting gig or charity splash hits the headlines, but the old gunslinger's still scheming plays in the shadows, Hawaii ties strong.

Jones's quick-release, run-n-shoot roots would feast in today's NFL—no more 30 sacks in five starts, with rules shielding QBs and zones begging for his yards-after-catch vision. That 45% completion? Modern WRs and protections turn it into 300-yard games, though his arm might cap him as a Shanahan-style game-manager.

Matt Ryan lapped June Jones under center—42.23 passer rating to Jones's measly 6.94, turning Falcons snaps into MVP seasons while Jones spotted up with 923 yards lifetime. Both franchise threads, but Ryan's the surgeon, Jones the '70s spark plug who lit the fuse for Atlanta's air attack later.