Linebacker,
Atlanta Falcons
Age: 23
(Sept. 23)
College: Georgia
Tech
Height: 6’2” Weight: 206
Prelude:
Richardson
was an eighth round draft choice by the Falcons for 1980, one of four
linebackers the Falcons took. Starting on the outside, he combined with fellow
rookie Buddy Curry, veteran Fulton Kuykendall, and second-year OLB Joel
Williams to create an outstanding corps of linebackers.
1980 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Sacks – N/A
Interceptions
– 7 [5, tied with 7 others]
Most
interceptions, game – 2 at San Francisco 9/28
Int. return
yards – 139 [4]
Most int.
return yards, game – 52 (on 1 int.) at Philadelphia 12/7
Int. TDs – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 3
Forced fumbles
– 0
Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6
Postseason: 1
G (NFC Divisional playoff vs. Dallas)
Interceptions
– 0
Awards &
Honors:
NFL Defensive
Rookie of the Year: AP (co-winner)
2nd
team All-NFC: UPI
Falcons went 12-4
to finish first in the NFC West with the best record in the conference. Lost
NFC Divisional playoff to Dallas Cowboys (30-27).
Aftermath:
Due to an
injury to Joel Williams, Richardson became the team’s chief blitzing linebacker
in 1981 and, while his interception total dropped to one, he led the Falcons
with 10.5 sacks (unofficially). A fractured shoulder blade limited Richardson
to five games in 1983, following the strike-shortened ’82 season, and his level
of performance dropped off thereafter. His career lasted just six seasons, through
1985, until he was cut during the preseason in ‘86. Overall, he played in 77
games and intercepted 9 passes; sacks not being an official statistic until
1982, he was credited with 9 but in actuality had more than double that number.
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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized
organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise
Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league
itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).
