Atlanta Falcons Public Relations

Falcons special teams ace and workout warrior Coy Wire is a deeply spiritual soul who speaks and conducts himself like he should be teaching a course on modern day religion at Stanford University — his alma mater.

The soft, melodious voice that Wire possesses off the field loudly resembles the screeching sounds of a fast moving  train as Wire rumbles down the field on punt coverage with hopes of blasting an enemy ball carrier.

Wire, you see, is not trying to hurt anyone.

“I’m trying to create a turnover, an opportunity for my team,” he said.  “What happens on special teams can determine the outcome of games, and it’s my job to make sure we do our best to help our team.”

Wire’s story is one filled with success, heartbreak, injury, and truiumph.

He’s not one of the NFL cover boys who the national media have been obssessed with every since he picked up a football, but rather a training camp gym rat who makes the roster year in and year out because of hard work, sacrifice, heart, and desire.

He’s the guy who is at the bottom half of the the Falcons roster, but no successful NFL team will ever hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy without guys like him.

Keep working hard, Coy…The city of Atlanta, the National Football League, and more importantly, the Falcons need you to keep on doing what you do.

rroberts Players Coy Wire, NFL Network, Steve Wyche

One of the most exciting days during any team’s training camp is Alumni Day, and the Falcons honor their former players as well as any team in the National Football League.

On Tuesday, August 11, the Falcons welcomed back 71 former players including six that were part of the inaugural 1966 Falcons team.  The players attended a luncheon hosted by Falcons President Rich McKay.  Atlanta Head Coach Mike Smith and team GM Thomas Dimitroff also stopped by to mingle and chat with the alumni before they were escorted out onto the practice field to take in the team’s afternoon practice.

Kevin Winston, the club’s Senior Director of Player Development, spearheaded Alumni Day and says honoring former players is a club component all NFL teams should embrace.

“These guys helped make the NFL what it is today and they all cheer for the Falcons to do well all the time,” Winston said.  “They read the papers, they follow the team on the Internet.  Once a Falcon, always a Falcon.”

Falcons alumni converged on Flowery Branch on Tuesday from as far away as Indiana to take part in this annual event that showcased former players who are excited about the direction of the current Falcons.

“I’m trying to see if they can break the jinx and actually have back-to-back winning seasons, so I am here to support them in that regard,” said Mike Kenn, a 17-year veteran offensive tackle who was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2008.  “What I see here is a team that’s got a great environment, a great administration, and a good coaching staff.  Seems like they’re making all the right moves.”

rroberts Alumni Kevin Winston