Jonathan Babineaux: Ring of Honor?

Jonathan Babineaux has given the Falcons 12 seasons of grit, hustle, and perseverance in the trenches. Did he accomplish enough with Atlanta to earn a banner in the rafters?

Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the 59th overall pick out of Iowa in the 2005 NFL Draft, Babineaux came into the league wreaking havoc. His impressive size, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing every bit of 300 pounds, made him a great run stopper. However, he was capable of more than just swallowing up running backs, as he began to develop the ability to get to the quarterback and notched impressive sack numbers for a defensive tackle after his first few seasons in the league.

Babineaux’s best year was most likely 2009, where he notched six sacks, his career high, and 37 total tackles. Unfortunately, defensive tackles aren’t always well represented statistically, as their impact on the game may come from gaining traction against the offensive line or opening gaps for linebackers to penetrate, but rest assured, Babineaux was making his presence felt.

While Babineaux was a good defensive tackle, he never got recognition outside of Atlanta. There are no Pro-Bowls, All-Pros, or Sack Titles in his resume, making it somewhat difficult to make case for his Ring of Honor status. After all, the current Falcons Ring of Honor includes legends like Tommy Nobis, Deion Sanders, and William Andrews, with accolades and career accomplishments much more impressive.

However, even though Babineaux’s cabinet of achievements is nearly empty and his stats will be considered mediocre, his effort and class for the Falcons and the Atlanta community is something to behold. He’s been a leader on the defensive line for most of his career, always playing with relentless determination. Also, Babineaux has volunteered for around 100 different organizations in Atlanta, where he sacrificed his time off the field for the betterment of society. He even earned a community service award from President Obama for his endeavors.

So, Babineaux is in a grey area for Ring of Honor status. He’s poured his heart and soul out for the Falcons, but he hasn’t put up the numbers that you would like to see for someone to have their number hanging from the rafters.

Personally, I think 12 seasons playing for the same team while producing consistently and serving the community is worthy of the Ring of Honor, but I can also understand if some would only want the very best players in franchise history earning that level of recognition. Whatever the case, it will be interesting to see how the situation plays out in the near future.