The Atlanta Falcons have plenty of young players getting attention heading into the 2026 season, but one veteran quietly continues to do the kind of work that can make a roster better.
Now Mike Ford Jr. isn't going to generate much excitement from his defensive statistics. But after what Ford did for the Falcons last season, it's fair to wonder if he's one of the more underrated players on the roster…
Ford played all 17 games for Atlanta in 2025 and finished with a career high 19 special teams tackles, 12 of them solo as he also recovered a muffed punt, giving him the second special teams fumble recovery of his career.
He played 366 special teams snaps in 2025, the most of any Falcons player and more than 80% of the team's total special teams snaps.
Ford has also been doing this for a long time… He has appeared in 111 career games across stops with the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Falcons and Cleveland Browns. He has accumulated 58 career special teams tackles and two fumble recoveries on special teams.
Mike Ford Jr.'s cornerback experience makes him even more useful
Mike Ford Jr. has also been making plays during this year's camp. Falcons reporter Will McFadden recently noted that Atlanta's defensive backs had a strong 1 on 1 period, with Ford coming away with an interception while nearly every other defensive back recorded a pass breakup.
"Aside from a couple of nice wins by Colts receivers, the Falcons’ DBs just had a really good 1-on-1 period. Mike Ford had a pick and nearly everyone had a PBU," McFadden wrote on X.
Sure one practice period obviously doesn't suddenly make Ford a shutdown corner. But it does reinforce the idea that his value isn't limited to special teams. At 31 years old and entering his ninth NFL season, Ford continues to find ways to make his presence felt.
Now the Falcons don't need Ford to suddenly become a Pro Bowl corner. They need him to be a veteran who can step into the defensive rotation if necessary while remaining one of the team's most dependable special teams players.
That's a pretty valuable role for a player who doesn't get talked about much. Now he enters another season as one of the more experienced players in the secondary.
While the Atlanta Falcons have young defensive backs who could eventually take on bigger roles, having a veteran like Ford around gives the team some insurance.
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