Jeffrey Van Note Obituary, ATLANTA, Ga. — Jeffrey Van Note, one of the most durable offensive linemen in NFL history and a longtime cornerstone of the Atlanta Falcons, died on October 2 at the age of 80. He leaves behind a remarkable football legacy built over 18 seasons with the Falcons.
Born February 7, 1946, in South Orange, New Jersey, Van Note grew up in Kentucky and attended St. Joseph Prep in Bardstown. He went on to play college football at the University of Kentucky from 1966 to 1968, seeing action as both a running back and defensive end.
Van Note entered the NFL after the Atlanta Falcons selected him in the 11th round of the 1969 NFL Draft. Initially drafted as a linebacker, he spent part of his first professional season playing minor-league football with the Alabama Hawks of the Continental Football League before returning to the Falcons.
His career took a defining turn when Falcons head coach Norm Van Brocklin moved him to center, a position Van Note had never previously played. He quickly established himself as a dependable and highly respected offensive lineman, ultimately spending his entire 18-year NFL career with Atlanta from 1969 through 1986.
Van Note appeared in 246 games and started 226, missing only four games throughout his career. He was selected to six Pro Bowls, in 1974, 1975 and from 1979 through 1982, and earned second-team All-Pro honors in 1979 and 1982.
His contributions to the Falcons continued to be recognized long after his playing career ended. Van Note was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Falcons Ring of Honor in 2006. During his final home game in December 1986, the team honored him with a 1957 Chevrolet, recognizing his jersey number and place in franchise history. In 1991, Falcons fans voted him the franchise’s favorite player during the team’s 25th anniversary season.
Following his retirement from professional football, Van Note remained connected to the sport through broadcasting. He worked as a color commentator for the Atlanta Falcons and Kentucky Wildcats and also worked with the Tennessee Oilers in 1997. He later hosted sports-talk radio in Atlanta and continued making appearances on Falcons radio broadcasts.
Van Note’s legacy extends beyond his statistics and awards. From an 11th-round draft selection to a franchise cornerstone, he became synonymous with durability, adaptability and loyalty to the Atlanta Falcons. He will be remembered by teammates, fans and the football community for nearly two decades of service to the franchise. Condolences go to his family, friends and all who knew him as they remember his life and lasting contribution to football.
